January 5, 2011
Maine

Independence Wind files revised application

By BJ Bangs Irregular Staff Writer, The Irregular, www.theirregular.com 5 January 2011

AUGUSTA – Independence Wind has filed an application with the Land Use Regulation Commission for a $210 million Highland Wind project to place 39 wind turbines in Highland Plantation.

Independence Wind filed an application with LURC about a year ago. However, the application was deemed incomplete April 7, 2010. That plan generated a lot of opposition from conservation groups and the Appalachian Mountain Club.

The revised plan reduces the number of turbines from 48 to 39, designates $750,000 to land conservation; increases the distance between the turbines and the Appalachian Trail; grants a permanent easement to the state prohibiting wind development on the highest ridge; and gives Highland Plantation homeowners $6,000 grants for energy-efficiency projects to reduce their heating oil consumption.

Catherine Carroll, executive director of LURC, said “We just received the application Tuesday, and it is voluminous. It’ll take some time to make sure all the components are there as required by law. Once it’s deemed complete, LURC will accept it for processing.”

Until then, she suggests people call the Augusta office if they would like to review the plan. “We don’t want to make multiple copies until the application is deemed complete.” However, she said she hopes to make some arrangements for copies or an on-line version being accessible to people that live in that area.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/05/independence-wind-files-revised-application/