MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Seven protesters were arrested Monday on Lowell Mountain, blocking for about an hour efforts by workers to continue construction on a 21-turbine wind power project that has drawn fierce opposition from a small group of people.
The protesters blocked construction vehicles in an area where the protesters believe the ownership of the land is in dispute, said a news release put out by Steve Wright of Craftsbury, a supporter of the protesters.
Some of the protesters held signs that read "road closed due to environmental destruction," Wright said.
"It was very, very peaceful," said Orleans County Chief Deputy Sheriff Philip Brooks.
The sheriff's office received the complaint about 9 a.m.
The protesters believe the Lowell Mountain project will forever scar a pristine ridgeline without offering any significant benefit to the environment.
"We can no longer let the corporations make energy decisions for us. Green Mountain Power has taken our property and constitutional rights, and is blasting away our mountains. It's time the power returns to the people," said Eric Wallace-Senft of West Woodbury.
GMP spokeswoman Dorothy Schnure said GMP's primary concern was the safety of the protesters and the construction workers.
"We are building a project that has gone through a rigorous legal permitting process and was found to be in the public good and they are interfering with that," she said.
GMP hopes to have the project generating electricity by the end of 2012.
