Wind Power News: Maine
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Outraged in Osborn
As a camp owner and taxpayer to the town of Osborn, I am sickened to hear today that more windmills have been approved. Back in February of 2015, The Ellsworth American reported that Osborn approved a new wind farm. In the story, the project coordinator for Sun Edison, Charlie Baldwin, states “one tangible benefit pond owners and other Osborn residents will see is a sharp drop in their property taxes … Because Weaver Wind will represent a huge increase in . . .
CMP & others bidding for new transmission lines across Maine
CMP’s proposal is already running into opposition from anti-wind activists and some residents along the route of the proposed transmission line. Chris O’Neil of the anti-wind group Friends of Maine Mountains argues a better option is Eversource Energy’s controversial Northern Pass project, which aims to connect southern New England to Quebec’s hydro power plants by running a 192-mile transmission line through northern New Hampshire. “The Northern Pass HVDC line … can essentially fulfill the entire RFP singlehandedly,” wrote O’Neil in an email. “Why waste years, money, and mountains on sprawling wind projects that cannot deliver the goods even after they get location permits? This could and should be another dodged bullet for Maine. A low-profile, high-performing project like Northern Pass simply blows the wind projects away, and it should win the competition hands down.”
CMP faces questions about power line plan for western Maine
BINGHAM – Despite assurances from Central Maine Power Co., several people at a meeting Thursday on the company’s proposal to build a 145-mile transmission corridor through western Maine said they oppose the project because they believe it will serve industrial wind farms. CMP held the public information session at Upper Kennebec Valley High School in Bingham to lay out plans for the power lines, which the company says would be used to bring hydro power from Canada to Massachusetts. Barbara Richardson . . .
Somerset County commissioners issue resolution opposing new wind turbines
SKOWHEGAN – Somerset County commissioners on Wednesday issued a resolution strongly opposing additional wind turbines in the county, as officials make ready for a CMP public meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday in Bingham on its plans for a wide power transmission corridor through and across tourist destinations. “Please be advised that the purpose of this letter is to express the Somerset County Commissioners’ opposition to additional industrial scale wind development and its associated facilities in Somerset County or the Moosehead Lake . . .
Dangers of wind towers overlooked
Wind turbines represent the greatest potential danger to Maine’s forest/tourist economy, yet almost no one has been paying attention to that danger. The danger is from turbine fires caused by friction build-up in the gear boxes and from lightning strikes. No one knows precisely how many turbine fires there have been because neither the federal government nor any state is required to record them. There is one valuable source that the public could consult: the Scotland-based Caithness Windfarm Information Forum – . . .
Wind power not needed
The continuing destruction of Maine’s pristine ridges and mountaintops for the benefit of politicians and foreign corporations must end. There is no need for Maine to be a conduit for the delivery of electricity to Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Let them build their wind turbines in the Berkshires and leave Maine alone. The latest Central Maine Power transmission upgrade from Coburn Gore to Lewiston serves no Maine ratepayer but, rather, enables the Spanish-owned public utility to continue its profitable . . .
More than 100 people ask if Massachusetts energy policy will destroy Moosehead Lake region
ROCKWOOD STRIP – More than 100 people packed the Rockwood Community Center Wednesday afternoon to help answer the question raised by a group opposed to proposed wind farms – will Massachusetts energy policy destroy the Moosehead Lake region. The answer for many was loud and clear: “Save our mountains – No Wind Farms.” Residents rose following a Power Point presentation by Richard McDonald, president of the anti-wind citizen group Saving Maine, and a member of the steering committee Moosehead Region Futures to voice . . .
Anti-wind group to outline opposition to new plans for 200 turbines in Somerset County
SKOWHEGAN – Early plans for more than 200 new wind turbines in rural Somerset County are drawing criticism from a group that fears industrial wind development will hurt the economy and quality of life for area residents. Richard McDonald, president of the anti-wind citizen group Saving Maine, is set to deliver a 30-minute presentation on the group’s opposition to the wind power projects to Somerset County commissioners starting at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Rockwood Strip. McDonald, who says he will also . . .
Don’t mar Maine’s beauty for Massachusetts
In 1819, Maine separated from Massachusetts and became its own entity. We have gotten along just fine for the past 200 years. But Massachusetts wants to use us as its industrial power center by running power lines and putting up industrial wind turbines in our mountains. Massachusetts has put up barriers to future pipelines to ensure an adequate supply of natural gas from the gas fields in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest. Real clean power comes from natural gas and hydroelectricity . . .
Should Northern New England host Massachusetts’ renewable energy extension cord?
A play by Massachusetts to inject more renewable power into its electricity mix could reshape the entire region’s energy landscape. Dozens of developers are competing to offer Massachusetts the best price for long-term contracts to supply clean energy to hundreds of thousands of homes. But many of the projects also face another challenge: convincing residents of Northern New England it’s in their interest to host the Bay State’s extension cord. For all the attention renewable power gets, it still provides . . .
