Location of Wind Power Plant in Vermont

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Location of Wind Power Plant in Vermont

• By Meaghan ONeil
• and James Brady

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Introduction

• Many Vermonters are concerned with the protection
  of the natural beauty of their state. 
• Due to the environmental effects of power
  production an alternative method with a lower
  impact is needed. 
• One environmentally friendly option is wind
  generated power. 
• This is a feasible option in Vermont due to the
  high wind speeds in the high elevations of the
  Green Mountains. 

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Purpose and Scope

• The purpose of this project was to locate the
  best place for a wind power plant in Vermont. 
• The scope of this project included all of Vermont
  and was narrowed down to Chittenden County
  because it has the highest population density.
• We used ArcView software with GIS data
  layers, from www.vcgi.org, to narrow the location
  down. 
• The data layers chosen were ones that are
  important to the location of a wind power plant. 
  
• These layers include
• major power lines
• conserved public and private land
• surface water
• population density of counties
• major roads
• elevation
• trails
• housing
• wetlands
• rec sites

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Methodology

• ArcView software was used to evaluate the layers
  in focus.
• This software allows the layers to be placed on
  top of each other giving locations where a power
  plant can be placed based on our criteria. 
• These layers can also be clipped to a certain
  county making finding a location easier. 
• After the layers are clipped all necessary
  buffers can be added to aid in picking a
  location.
• The criteria is as follows
• densely populated county
• high elevation
• close to major power lines and roads
• 400 feet from known trails
• 750 feet from housing
• 300 feet from wetlands
• not on private or public lands
• not on ski resorts or surface water

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Results

•      After the data was layered, clipped and
  buffered a final location was chosen. 
• The final location found is Stimson Mountain.

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Final location on a contour map
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Orthophoto of final location
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Conclusions and Recommendations

• Stimson is a good location because it does not
  fall under our buffered trails, wetlands, or
  housing. 
• Also, it is close to major power lines and roads
  this helps cut cost by only having to make short
  access roads for construction and maintenance
  and short power lines to incorporate the plant
  into the existing power system.  
• Finally, Stimson does not fall below public land,
  private land or surface water, and has the
  required elevation to ensure high wind speeds
  needed to produce power.