Rutland, VT – Carl and Judy Ferenbach and Vermont Electric Power Company, Inc.(VELCO) today jointly announced a settlement agreement covering parcels of land owned by the Ferenbachs impacted by VELCO’s proposed Southern Loop Coolidge Connector electric transmission project.  The settlement covers various habitat protection measures and will enable a comparison of different vegetation management techniques, activities that will be undertaken primarily in VELCO’s right-of-way. 

According to the Ferenbachs, “We are pleased to have reached an understanding with VELCO on this aspect of maintenance of the right of way.  We took this on in part to demonstrate that conservation of this kind of sensitive and valuable habitat should be a cost of these large public interest projects.  We are glad that in this instance they have concurred.

"A shared commitment by both parties to conserving wildlife habitat enabled us to reach this settlement,” said VELCO Project Manager Ralph Roam.  “This agreement will enable VELCO to move forward on a project critical to electric system reliability with an approach that is both environmentally sound and cost effective.

The Southern Loop Coolidge Connector Project is currently under review by the Vermont Public Service Board where a decision is currently expected in January of 2009.  For more information on the Project please visit VELCO’s website at www.velco.com.