Protect aesthetic quality near hiking trails

Follow accepted soil erosion control practices

Promote healthy growth in forests

Protect wildlife habitat, endangered species, wetlands and streams

Uses locally available fuel source

Consumes 180,000 tons of wood per year, which displaces 360,000 barrels of imported oil

Contributes to the regional economy ($90,000,000 since 1984)

Provides jobs for Vermonters

Improves Vermont forests

70% produced from low-quality trees

25% produced from residues (chips and bark from local sawmills)

5% comes from clean recycled wood

Produces 50 megawatts (MW) of power

Consumes 76 tons of wood per hour

Air quality control devices limit stack emissions to one-tenth of the level allowed by Vermont regulators

Stack emissions are one one-hundredth of level allowed by Federal regulators

McNeil harvesting standards have improved the health and productivity of over 30,000 acres of Vermont forests.

These standards are unique to Vermont and are the most stringent of any wood consumer in the state.

Professional foresters monitor all harvests and a Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist must approve proposed harvests

Harvests must meet approved guidelines for forest management and soil and water protection

The McNeil Station provides a market for about 54,000 tons per year of wood residues otherwise slated for local landfills.

Wood is a renewable fuel which does not contribute to global warming.

The current annual harvest for all wood products is less than half the annual growth.

The McNeil Generating Station is jointly-owned by: BED (operator and 50% owner); Central Vermont Public Service (20%); Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (19%); and, Green Mountain Power (11%).