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Explore our coverage of government and politics.

State Repays Wind Developer $75,000 For Review Of Now-Idled Project

A ridge in Swanton Vermont in the distance, site of proposed wind project.
Melody Bodette
/
VPR File
The Agency of Natural Resources will pay Swanton Wind about $75,000 of a $100,000 permit fee Swanton Wind paid for its wind project planned for this Franklin County hilltop.

The state has agreed to reimburse a wind developer most of the cost of a permit fee for a project now on hold.

The state Supreme Court ruled in December that Swanton Wind was entitled to some or all of a $100,000 fee it paid the Agency of Natural Resources to review the 20 megawatt project.

Matt Chapman, ANR’s general counsel, said Monday the state agreed to repay approximately $75,000.

“The agency and Swanton Wind reached a settlement that resolves the dispute surrounding reimbursement of fees from the project that Swanton Wind proposed,” he said.

After the Supreme Court said Swanton Wind should should get reimbursed, the Public Utility Commission opened up a docket to determine how much was owed. The commission last month asked the stateto detail the time and money it spent on the Swanton Wind case. But it’s likely the settlement will halt that inquiry.

Swanton Wind filed a letter Monday with the state Public Utility Commission asking the panel to close the case.

“Swanton Wind, LLC requests that the commission close this docket as this withdrawal renders moot all live disputes and controversies on remand and any outstanding motions or unresolved issues,” the letter said.

The developers withdrew the plan in the summer of 2017 after the Public Utility Commission ruled that they had to first conduct a study to determine its impact on the regional electric grid.

John worked for VPR in 2001-2021 as reporter and News Director. Previously, John was a staff writer for the Sunday Times Argus and the Sunday Rutland Herald, responsible for breaking stories and in-depth features on local issues. He has also served as Communications Director for the Vermont Health Care Authority and Bureau Chief for UPI in Montpelier.
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