Green Mountain Power will reimburse a journalist for his legal expenses in defending himself against a trespass charge while covering a protest against construction of a wind power facility on Lowell Mountain.
The charge against Chris Braithwaite, the publisher of the Barton Chronicle, has been dismissed.
The Caledonian Record reports that GMP will pay him $22,500 to settle a civil lawsuit.
Braithwaite was arrested Dec. 5, 2011, along with six protesters after they blockaded construction vehicles on a path to the ridgeline where the wind project was being built.
Braitwaite said the payment covers his legal fees and is a fair resolution.
GMP spokeswoman Dottie Schnure said the company is confident it would have prevailed in the lawsuit but says settling was in the best interest of customers.