January 31, 2012
Maine

Clifton board denies Pisgah wind farm appeal

www.mainebiz.biz 30 January 2012

The town of Clifton has rejected an appeal by local farmers to revoke its approval of a five-turbine wind farm project on Pisgah Mountain. The news comes as the developer signs an agreement with Bangor Hydro Electric to supply electricity.

The town’s board of appeals Wednesday voted to deny the appeal from Peter and Julie Beckford, who argued the turbines would negatively impact their perennial flower farm, according to the Bangor Daily News. The couple this past summer built two cabins on their property and asked the planning board to redraw the farm’s projected boundary so that it was 4,000 feet from the buildings, as required. However, since the cabins were built after the developer began the permit process and because they do not qualify as occupied structures under town rules, the board voted to uphold the wind farm’s approval. Peter Beckford told the paper he’s unsure if they will appeal the decision to superior court.

The town in October approved the project led by Pisgah Mountain LLC, made up of developer Paul Fuller of Bangor, his wife and brother-in-law, and two Clifton residents. The Maine Public Utilities Commission has directed Bangor Hydro Electric Co. to enter into a 20-year agreement with the developer to supply electricity to Bangor Hydro customers.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/31/clifton-board-denies-pisgah-wind-farm-appeal/