Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Environmentalist group still looks to halt Rollins Mountain wind project
Credit: Mike DeSumma, Multimedia Journalist, www.wcsh6.com 23 September 2010 ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Opponents to the Rollins Mountain wind project are mounting a new campaign to stop construction of the 40-turbine wind farm just as it is getting started.
An attorney representing members of the environmentalist group ‘Friends of Lincoln Lakes’ says she plans to seek a court injunction to halt the project on the mountain and its many ridges. Attorney Lynne Williams says she also has filed a new petition with the state Board of Environmental Protection.
Boston-based “First Wind L.LC.” has already started construction on the Rollins wind project. Company officials say once completed the 40-turbine wind farm will stretch across the four towns that the mountain ridges run through, which include parts of Lincoln, Lee, Winn and Burlington.
The “Friends of Lincoln Lakes” has been fighting to stop the project since it was first announced. Several of its members have now signed onto that petition which is before the Maine Board of Environmental Protection. Opponents of the project say they are now looking to have the company’s license for the project suspended or revoked, so that current issues with noise at other wind farms in Maine can be assessed.
“The fact is that Mars Hill is out of compliance and has been granted a waiver by the state,” Williams said, “Freedom is out of compliance, and Vinalhaven is out of compliance. Both of those two wind farms have the exact same turbines except each of them only has three. Rollins Ridge will have 40.
“First Wind” offered a statement in response to the group’s petition saying:
“We believe this has no merit and we have the necessary permits and approvals required to move forward with the project.”
On the issue of the potential injunction the statement added:
“It is unfortunate that a small group of wind power opponents are determined to misuse the legal system for their own narrow interests. This project has broad support, will bring economic benefits to the region and deliver clean power to Maine residents.”
Williams says the Board of Environmental Protection will most likely be reviewing the group’s petition in early October. She adds that she is holding off on filing the lawsuit as more plaintiffs have recently come forward to join it.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
Wind Watch relies entirely on User Contributions |
![]() (via Stripe) |
![]() (via Paypal) |
Share: