Vt. wind debate goes from moratorium to review

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- A legislative debate that started with a proposed moratorium on wind development in Vermont has been reduced to a review of how electric generation projects are sited.

The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee voted to approve the new bill, which would involve a series of summer meetings among lawmakers on the subject.

The bill now goes before the full House.

The original bill grew out of reaction to large-scale wind projects. Gov. Peter Shumlin appointed a commission to examine state policy on siting and reviewing energy projects. The House bill says lawmakers will review the commission's report.

Matt Levin of Vermonters for a Clean Environment, which wanted the moratorium, said the six hearings outlined in the bill are a positive step that the issues need to be addressed.