Judge dismisses environmental group's arguments against Forest Service wind project

A federal judge has dismissed arguments challenging a 15-turbine wind project authorized in the Green Mountain National Forest.

The citizens group Vermonters for a Clean Environment said the approval process for the project was flawed and argued the installation would compromise a federally designated wilderness area near the site.

The project in Searsburg was proposed by Deerfield Wind, a subsidiary of Iberdrola Renewables.

The Rutland Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1xwHAsp) Judge J. Garvan Murtha late last month denied all claims made by environmental group. He cited previous court findings that concluded the decision of a federal agency such as the Forest Service could only be overturned if the decision was "arbitrary, capricious (or) an abuse of discretion."

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Information from: Rutland Herald, http://www.rutlandherald.com/