Opinion ID: 1043675
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Turbines

Text: ¶ 24. The Towns next argue that the Board erroneously approved wind turbines that are prohibited by its order. According to the Towns, the Board approved the project for up to only a 63 MW wind electric generation facility, yet petitioners have informed the Board that they will be using 21 Vestas V112 turbines for the project, which have a rated output of 3.075 MW rather than 3.0 MW. This results in a 64.575 MW wind-generation facility rather than a 63 MW facility. ¶ 25. The Board considered and rejected this argument, as do we. The record indicates that in its CPG decision, the Board reviewed four possible turbine models, including the Vestas V112-3.0 MW that GMP ultimately selected. The Board determined that the project would comply with 30 V.S.A. § 248 if any of the proposed turbines were used. GMP submitted its final design plans for the Board’s review, and the Board approved GMP’s turbine selection in a July 19, 2011 order. ¶ 26. In the meantime, the Towns filed a letter with the Board on July 12, 2011 arguing that GMP was prohibited from constructing the wind electric generating facility utilizing twenty-one Vestas V112-3.0 MW turbines because the Board’s order approving the project stated that GMP was authorized to construct “up to a 63 MW project.” The Towns argued that GMP must install only twenty of the V112 model turbines, select a different turbine, or obtain an amendment to the CPG. GMP responded to these arguments, and the Towns replied to this response. ¶ 27. The Board rejected the Towns’ arguments in a July 20, 2011 memorandum to the parties. First, it noted that no party had properly presented a motion seeking any particular relief from the Board. Additionally, the Board explained that it had specifically considered and approved the construction of up to twenty-one of the V112 turbines in its May 2011 CPG. Therefore, the Board reasoned, to the extent that it was possible to read certain language in that order as placing a 63 MW restriction on the project, the Board considered such a restriction to be a technical error. Lastly, the Board stated that even if its order had imposed a 63 MW limit, the change from a 63 MW to 64.575 MW would not represent a substantial change requiring an amendment to the CPG under the Board’s rules. [5] ¶ 28. The Board identified reasonable grounds for its decision and acted well within its discretion in classifying this as a technical error. It is readily apparent from the Board’s order that it approved up to a twenty-one turbine wind-generation facility and that it expressly approved the particular turbine model selected by GMP. We find no error.