Wind Power News: Maine
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted.
Jackson extends wind moratorium, officially
Two weeks ago, Jackson selectmen voted to extend a six-month moratorium on issuing permits for industrial wind developments, but the vote was nullified when town officials found that a public hearing on the issue was required.
On June 30, the board convened a pro forma public hearing and made the extension official. Selectors Cynthia Ludden and John Work voted in favor of extending the moratorium, while David Greeley recused himself based on a conflict of interest.
Work had been on the . . .
Fox Islands Wind project gets under way
VINALHAVEN — Hundreds of islanders gathered Monday morning at a 75-acre construction site in a misty spruce forest to celebrate the groundbreaking for the Fox Islands Wind project.
By Thanksgiving, developers said, three turbines here will take advantage of the high offshore winds to produce enough electricity to provide power to the 1,500 year-round residents of Vinalhaven and North Haven islands. And many think that when the windmills are whirring on Vinalhaven, other island communities will want turbines of their own.
“I . . .
Roxbury board caught in crosswinds
ROXBURY — Ninety-two people signed a petition that asks selectmen to convene a special town meeting vote to rescind previously approved changes to town law allowing wind power facilities, according to Town Clerk Nina Hodgkins.
At Tuesday night’s board meeting, selectmen accepted both the petition and a letter from Record Hill Wind LLC principal and former Maine governor Angus King.
Record Hill has proposed to site 22 wind power turbines on Roxbury hills. The project is currently undergoing review by the Maine . . .
Wind project may knock island electric rates down; Advocates hope Maine's first island wind turbines on Vinalhaven also blow public opinion their way
A groundbreaking ceremony Monday on Vinalhaven will usher in Maine’s first island wind-power project and could help set the stage for larger offshore wind farms.
Politicians and business and community leaders are expected to be at the construction site of the $15 million Fox Islands wind project, which is being built to supply electricity to residents of Vinalhaven and North Haven. It is made up of three 1.5-megawatt turbines that will spin on 250-foot-high towers.
On an annual basis, the turbines are . . .
Fox Islands Wind project to break ground June 29
Fox Islands Wind, LLC, is now overseeing the first construction phases of an effort to bring wind energy to Vinalhaven and North Haven.
When work at the site is completed later this year, three 1.5 megawatt General Electric wind turbines will feed electricity directly to the power distribution system on the two islands, according to a press release issued last week by Cianbro Corporation, the contractor for the project.
Any surplus power generated by the wind turbines will be sold back . . .
Moratorium extension to be voted on again in Jackson
JACKSON — After voting last week to extend the town’s moratorium on industrial wind development, selectmen will have to revisit that decision Tuesday, June 30, because of a procedural error.
Town Clerk Brenda Dennison, who is also the chairperson of the town’s planning board, said Selectmen John Work and Cindy Ludden voted to extend the moratorium for another 180 days during their regular meeting June 16.
Selectman David Greeley abstained from voting, as he has in the past, because of a conflict . . .
Windmill tower pieces too big for rural road
On my way to work via Route 104 South, I am met by three “wide load” trailers and outriders hauling what I discovered are segments to a windmill tower.
Does anyone know where these towers are being placed and why they are hauling them over such a narrow and deteriorating highway, causing a true safety issue?
For your information, I am a supporter of wind power but not of the behemoths being transported over this particular road.
Leslie Ryan
Sidney
Kennebec Journal
26 . . .
Stockton voters approve wind power moratorium
STOCKTON SPRINGS — In other business, Stockton voters:
— Approved, without discussion, a six-month moratorium on wind power development in town. The ordinance will run through Dec. 17, and may be renewed for an additional 180 days by selectmen. If selectmen opt to do that, the moratorium would be in place until June 15, 2010.
[excerpted from "Stockton squashes request for right to rename roads"]
By Steve Fuller
The Republican Journal Reporter
waldo.villagesoup.com
25 June 2009
Portland board OKs rezoning for wind-testing towers
The 100-foot structures for checking if turbines are feasible on Munjoy Hill and Peaks still need more approvals.
PORTLAND — Towers that rise 100 feet and are equipped with devices capable of measuring wind speed and direction are one step closer to being erected in the city.
The Planning Board voted 5-0 Tuesday night to approve rezoning that would allow anemometer towers to be erected in most areas of Portland. The decision means that plans for two projects, floated earlier . . .
Not enough blustery days in South Berwick: Low wind speed ends plans for small wind farm
SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Plans for a commercial wind farm off Route 236 have been grounded.
Ra Power Solutions, a Cape Neddick-based renewable energy company, recently completed a study indicating wind speeds are insufficient to power a set of turbines. The company was exploring building a small-scale “niche” wind farm consisting of up to 300-foot high turbines on a ridge across from Marshwood High School.
Company President Rick Benoit said wind speeds need to average at least 6.5 meters per second at . . .
