AMC works to promote the development of state policies and regulations that address the specific characteristics of wind power development, provide a high level of protection to important natural resources, and guide development to suitable sites. To date our work has been focused in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Maine:  AMC served as an alternate member of the Governor's Task Force on Wind Power Development.  The recommendations of the Task Force were enacted into law in 2008.  The new law provided a streamlined permitting path for wind power development in portions of the state deemed most suitable for this development, while retaining existing protection for natural resources.  The law also changed the approach to evaluating scenic impacts in recognition of wind power's unique visual aspects, while retaining strong protection for scenic resources of state and national significance.  AMC continues to work with Maine's Land Use Regulation Commission as it develops more detailed guidance to implement the new regulations in the state's unorganized territory.

New Hampshire:  AMC, working in cooperation with the Audubon Society of New Hampshire, convened an ad-hoc group of stakeholders that developed Conceptual Wind Power Siting Guidelines for permitting and siting wind power in the state.  The group included representatives of conservation organizations, the wind power industry, state agencies, and municipal interests.  The guidelines were presented to the legislatively-established Energy Policy Commission and included in the commission's 2008 final report to the legislature.  AMC continues to promote the adoption of these guidelines into official state policy or regulation.

Massachusetts:  AMC served on the Renewable Energy Siting Task Force, established by the Green Communities Act of 2008.  The Task Force drafted legislation that would create a more straightforward permitting process for wind power projects, while directing the state to develop standards for siting projects that are at least as protective of natural resource values as existing state regulations.  The legislation is currently under consideration by the state legislature.  If enacted, AMC will continue to play an active role in the development of the siting standards.

Public lands:  Wind power development on public lands is being considered across the region.  The Green Mountain National Forest is evaluating the first proposal for wind power development on any National Forest, and development on state lands has been a topic of considerable discussion, particularly in Massachusetts and Vermont.  AMC has been urging public land managers to update and clarify their land management plans to address wind power development, and to conduct comprehensive assessments of their land holdings to determine what areas (if any) could be considered for development without compromising the high level of resource protection expected of public lands.