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Antrim wind turbines headed to Supreme Court

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The New Hampshire Supreme Court has accepted a lawsuit to stop nine wind turbines along Tuttle Hill and the Willard Mountain ridge line in Antrim.

The Supreme Court appeal is the latest challenge to the proposed project. 

Wind turbines proposed five years ago

The state Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) originally rejected the project in 2013 because of the negative visual impact on nearby wilderness, particularly the Willard Pond Sanctuary.

Antrim Wind Energy then submitted a revised proposal with fewer and smaller wind turbines and a promise to fund more land conservation in the area.

The state SEC gave final approval for the wind turbines in May of this year. 

Arguments from opponents

Opponents of the project argue it will not only spoil scenic views, it will disrupt the local environment and potentially threaten the health of nearby residents due to vibrations. 

The Supreme Court lawsuit comes from several New Hampshire residents, the Stoddard Conservation Commission, and the Windaction Group.  They argue the SEC did ignored new rules for evaluating energy projects and that Antrim Wind Energy did not revise its original proposal enough to merit reconsideration.

Wind power has its supporters

Supporters counter that wind power is clean and renewable, which will benefit New Hampshire’s environment overall.  They also note that the Antrim municipal government supports having the wind turbines in town.

To learn more about the pros and cons of wind power, visit our issue page

Have your say!

Do you support the wind turbines proposed for Antrim?  Let us know in the comments below.

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