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Wind Power News: Maine
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Conservation groups to rally against proposed Sears Island wind turbines
SEARSPORT – Friends of Sears Island, along with members of Islesboro Islands Trust, Sierra Club Maine, and others, will present a rally for Sears Island on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the parking lot of Mermaid Plaza, 1 East Main Street in Searsport (the building with the blue roof on the right as you enter town from Belfast). The public is invited to attend and learn more about Maine Department of Transportation’s proposal to develop a . . . Complete story »
15 years ago, a small Aroostook town went first on wind power – and hit turbulence along the way
Neighbors were assured the Mars Hill turbines would be nearly silent so they were surprised by the noise, the low-level vibrations and the periodic shadow-effects. More than a dozen Mars Hill homeowners sued the developer, First Wind, claiming the turbines were hurting their health and property values. The company eventually paid an undisclosed sum, and the homeowners agreed to stay quiet. Complete story »
Sears Island and its birds should be protected
I was horrified to read in last Wednesday’s Bangor Daily News that once again, Sears Island is in danger. I sincerely hope that the committee looking at the suitability of the area for a terminal for offshore wind development considers the fact that the island is one of the, if not the, best place to see spring bird migration on the coast between Rockland and Bangor. In the spring, the trees and bushes of Sears Island are alive with birdsong. . . . Complete story »
State testing Sears Island for suitability of offshore wind terminal
Heavy equipment rolled across the causeway to Sears Island Tuesday morning for a geotechnical survey done by the state of Maine that could help determine if the island is a suitable place to develop an offshore wind hub. But the rumble of machinery sounded ominous to environmental groups that want the island to stay undeveloped. Rolf Olsen, vice president of the Friends of Sears Island, said last week that the planned tree cutting and test hole boring seems problematic to . . . Complete story »
Big wind farms planned in far Northern Maine could benefit Mass.
The hottest clean-energy contest currently underway in New England doesn’t involve offshore wind farms, at least not this time. Instead of the waters south of Martha’s Vineyard, this race to tap into wind energy is taking shape in the sparsely populated timberlands of Northern Maine. And the state of Massachusetts has suddenly emerged as a key player. Tucked in the back of the clean-energy bill the Legislature approved on July 31 and sent to Governor Charlie Baker for his signature . . . Complete story »
Reserve margin may need to rise to 300% by 2040 as more renewables added to grid: ISO New England
“This scenario would require such a large amount of wind and solar that it may present significant challenges [to] the transmission system and require an outsized amount of land or offshore areas to be sited and developed for the necessary wind and solar farms,” the report warned. Complete story »
Is Mass. eyeing out-of-state nuke, wind power for clean energy?
The climate and energy bill sitting on the governor’s desk contains two policy sections that could open the door to clean energy procurements involving onshore wind from Maine and nuclear power from Connecticut, according to one of the key drafters of the legislation. Rep. Jeffrey Roy of Franklin, the House chair of the Legislature’s Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy Committee, said the sections are designed to help the state begin exploring new ways to procure clean energy to meet emission targets, . . . Complete story »
Big batteries are quickly becoming part of Maine’s electric grid
The white boxy structures across the river from the former Great Northern Paper mill in East Millinocket, Maine, don’t look like much from a distance. But a closer look offers a glimpse of Maine’s green energy future – one that’s battery powered. This story is part of our series “Climate Driven: A deep dive into Maine’s response, one county at a time.” Half a mile down a dirt road through the woods, you come to a clearing above a dam on . . . Complete story »
Maine fishermen ask feds to slow offshore wind development
The state of Maine is officially bullish about offshore wind-power development, as Gov. Janet Mills and her administration study possible uses of the renewable energy at the state’s commercial ports and pursue a lease in federal waters for a pilot project. But Maine fishermen remain concerned about the potential effects of offshore wind power on their industry. One fisherman from Stonington this week told officials with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Management that commercial leasing process . . . Complete story »
Electricity grid operator expecting more demand and renewables in New England
New England’s electricity grid is in for major changes, according to a yearly report from ISO New England, the organization that manages the region’s grid. The report says decarbonization will become the way of life in New England, with heating and transportation becoming electrified through technology like heat pumps and electric vehicles. That will increase regional demand for electricity. At the same time, the grid, which now predominantly runs on natural gas, will shift towards renewable energy. All New England . . . Complete story »
