June 30, 2011
Maine

Wind project site details released

By Ken Briggs, Advertiser Democrat, www.advertiserdemocrat.com 30 June 2011

WOODSTOCK – About a dozen Woodstock residents attended a public meeting organized by Patriot Renewables at the Woodstock Elementary School on Monday.

The meeting was scheduled by Community Outreach Officer Tom Carroll to address citizen concerns and update the public on the status of construction of the Spruce Mountain wind power project.

After a three-year permitting process, construction began last week.

Also in attendance were representatives from Central Maine Power (CMP), Maine Drilling and Blasting, and Sargent Corporation.

CMP will be upgrading transmission lines on Cushman Road to handle the power generated by the 10 wind turbines. CMP’s Project Manager Roger Stein assured property owners that “while there will be a lot of truck traffic” the poles will be brought out from a staging area at the substation as needed, instead of just being dropped on Cushman Road.

Carl Wallace, of Maine Drilling and Blasting said there would “typically be two shots (blasts) a day, usually around noon and 5 o’ clock.”

There will be a series of whistle blasts before each shot and the site will be cleared before each detonation. People can get on a call list to be given an hour’s notice prior to a blast.

Patriot Renewables website for this project will be updated as construction progresses. It can be accessed at www.sprucemountainwind.com

Carroll also gave out a 24 hour hotline telephone number, (207) 577-8412, for people to call with complaints or concerns. “Don’t be patient; let me know [if there is a problem],” he urged the attendees. “The key thing we ask here is communication.”

Eric Clark, from Sargent Corporation, said it is company policy for all gravel trucks to have their loads covered. His company will be constructing the road up the mountain. Work hours will be around 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Both Carroll and Stein said there would be security present at all sites.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/06/30/wind-project-site-details-released/