Grassroots Government Advocacy Committee
Noise Limits for Wind Turbines
On 10/12/17, Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules intensely discussed with lawmakers a proposed rule on noise limits for wind turbines. The rule proposed by the Public Utility Commission sets a 42-decibel limit for wind turbines during the day and 39-decibel limit at night, when measured 100 feet from the outside of neighboring homes.
Legislators called for the sound limits in a 2016 bill now known as Act 174, which instructed the PUC to write uniform sound rules for wind turbines. The commission can’t adopt the rules until they’ve been approved by the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules. Most legislators on the rules committee received the PUC’s claims with varying degrees of skepticism.
The Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules chose to extend the deadline for a vote on the rule and will re-examine the rule on 10/24/17.
Act 250 Commission Reassessment
Our last GGAC report identified that the Commission on Act 250 would reconvene October 25’th and November 15’th. A press release from the Commission (10/10/17) now identified a third meeting is scheduled for 12/13/17.
For our members wishing to attend any of the meetings, they will be held from 10 AM to 4 PM in Room 11 at the State House in Montpelier.
Under Act 47, the Commission’s work has three phases: (1) a phase on the history and implementation of Act 250, (b) a public engagement phase, and (c) a report preparation phase.
The Commission’s report is due December 15, 2018.
VTrans and ACCD Announce $200k in Planning Funds to Increase Transportation
As part of an ongoing partnership to revitalize community centers and increase transportation options, the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) recently announced that the Better Connections (BC) Grant Program is accepting applications.
Annually, the program grants approximately $200,000 in planning funds to help cities and towns (outside of Chittenden County) build more livable, walkable and strong communities. Grant Applications are due January 31, 2018 with all applicants required to participate in a pre-application meeting with BC Program Managers prior to December 31, 2017.
For more information visit the grant website:
http://vtrans.vermont.gov/planning/projects-programs/better-connections
US Government Affairs Updates
(as reported by ASHRAE.org, partial listing)
Refer to the following link for additional information on the above topics:
Dick Wilcox
GGAC Chair