October 10, 2011
Maine

Farmington wind energy project up for discussion

By Ann Bryant, Staff Writer, Sun Journal, www.sunjournal.com 10 October 2011

FARMINGTON – The Planning Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Municipal Building due to Columbus Day falling on their regularly scheduled night.

Along with reviewing submitted applications, the board will hear a preliminary, informational presentation for a wind turbine project in town.

Associated Wind Developers, based in Plymouth, Mass., has asked to meet and discuss their interest in placing four wind turbines on the Bailey Farm on Bailey Hill, according to information submitted to the Code Enforcement Office.

In communications with Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser, Matthew Damon of AWD “is seeking to place four American-made Aeronautica Windpower 750kW wind turbines in Farmington.”

The 750 is smaller than the “king-size wind turbines designed for wide open spaces,” according to submitted materials. Considered more queen-sized, these turbines are better suited for populated areas. The turbines would stand 300 feet tall.

AWD also plans on seeking a “power purchase agreement with a local school, company or municipality interested in purchasing green energy at or beneath the current retail rate.”

Although the board has worked on a draft for the town’s wind energy performance standards, these are still in the works and have not been adopted.

No application has been submitted for the project. Damon of AWD is expected to provide more information.

Attempts to reach Damon on Friday were unsuccessful.

During Monday’s meeting, the board will also review an application submitted by Hannaford to create a drive-up window for the store pharmacy at 131 Hannaford Drive.

The board will also review plans for the new Farmington police station and a request from John Hayden on Croswell Road to tear down a small shed and replace it with a 12- by 60-foot trailer to use as a workshop and for storage.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/10/10/farmington-wind-energy-project-up-for-discussion/