The Windham Regional Commission will hold two public hearings on the proposed Windham Regional Energy Plan as an amendment to the Windham Regional Plan on Monday, April 9, at the Townshend Town Hall and Thursday, April 12, at The Westminster Institute. Both hearings start at 6:30 p.m.
Pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 4348, the WRC requests general and specific comments with respect to the extent to which the amendment is consistent with the goals established in section 4302(c)(7) of Chapter 117.
The WRC serves all of Windham County, the Bennington County towns of Readsboro, Searsburg, and Winhall, and the Windsor County town of Weston. The Windham Regional Plan provides guidance for change and development in this 27-town region, and it establishes the basis for much of the WRC's work during the plan's life.
The plan is intended for use by the WRC, town planning commissions, selectboards, state agencies, developers, and others.
The principal elements of the proposed Regional Plan amendment are: context/introduction, Windham regional planning, key issues and goals, current Windham Region energy goals overview, current energy use, future energy use and targets, and energy and adaptation strategies.
During the 18-month development process, the WRC and its Commissioners have solicited comments from the public, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and other stakeholders with four public meetings, three public workshop forums, and 17 open meetings within the Commission.
The amendment will revise the Regional Plan's energy element in accordance with the duties of regional planning commissions outlined in 24 V.S.A. § 4345a(5).
The complete text of the proposed amendment is available online at www.windhamregional.org/energy/act-174-energy-planning.
WRC invites the public to make comments at the public hearings, online, or by email at mmajor@windhamregional.org. The WRC anticipates a vote on this plan amendment at its full commission meeting April 24.
The current adopted Windham Regional Plan is available at www.windhamregional.org/publications.