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 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." AP