Lincoln board decides against wind moratorium
10/23/08 | 17 comments

Lincoln board decides against wind moratorium


By Nick Sambides Jr.
BDN Staff

LINCOLN, Maine — Planning board Chairman Peter Phinney will review a proposed $120 million wind farm for Rollins Mountain when it is submitted despite working for one of its benefactors and the board will not pursue a moratorium that would delay the project.

Board members made those decisions during a 2½-hour meeting at Mattanawcook Academy late Tuesday. Representatives from wind farm proponent First Wind of Massachusetts and the Friends of Lincoln Lakes residents’ group were among 40 people attending.

First Wind representatives said they would file permit applications with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection by Nov. 7 and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by Nov. 21. First Wind hopes to build 40 1.5-megawatt windmills, each more than 300 feet tall, in Burlington, Lincoln, Lee and Winn, creating as much as 60 megawatts of electricity through Evergreen Wind Power, a First Wind subsidiary.

The Friends group argued for a moratorium and against what they say would be the wind farm’s harmful impact upon the aesthetics, land values and health of residents. It would destroy Lincoln’s pastoral nature and its ability to draw tourists who enjoy its waters and woods, they said.

“Why are we rushing into this? This is a huge project coming into a region that bills itself as the land of 13 lakes,” said group member Susan Custis, a Transalpine Road resident. “Why are we rushing so much on something that most people know nothing about?”

One member, Harry Epp of Folsom Pond Road, gave the board a copy of testimony a New York doctor gave to the New York State Legislature’s Energy Committee in 2006 claiming that some residents have suffered from sleep deprivation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, exhaustion, depression and tinnitus because of the noise and light flickering caused by massive wind turbines like those First Wind wants to build.

A First Wind spokesman did not immediately return telephone messages and e-mails seeking comment on the health claims on Wednesday. First Wind has said its projects, including a wind farm in Mars Hill, abide by all DEP regulations.

Epp described windmills as “a complex, controversial subject, misunderstood and under investigation.” He said the board should support a moratorium to give residents and board members time to better understand what First Wind is proposing.

“I would like to see these things put on hold for three or four years until the technology makes it possible to locate these things offshore,” group member Michael DiCenso said.

Other audience members praised First Wind as a conscientious creator of wind power, which generates electricity without pollution. They said the company’s investment in the area would decrease taxes, create more industry and jobs and provide its towns with funding it can invest in infrastructure improvements and economic development.

Resident Ryan Ward said he will have wind turbines almost in his backyard and welcomes them. Private landowners have a right to have wind turbines on their property if they wish to, he said.

Resident David Susen, on whose town farm three windmills would be built, said his family will get great financial benefit from the project, but so would the rest of town.

“In my opinion, [windmills] are not ugly at all. They are very cool,” Susen said. “All this talk about the noise they make is all innuendo. … It would be really a shame that a small group of people would use innuendo to drive a company like this out of our town. We as a town should be rolling out the red carpet for them.”

Board Vice Chairman B. Michael Ireland, a land-use permitting environmental consultant, said a moratorium such as the board would consider would only delay the project six months, not eliminate it.

“We have to see what they want to do in order to judge it properly,” said Ireland, who is not related to Town Council member Michael Ireland.

Planning board members readily admitted they didn’t have any experience dealing with windmill turbines, but said it would be their responsibility to learn. Also, the board will rely upon Maine DEP to evaluate the project’s environmental impact, Ireland said.

With Phinney abstaining, the board voted 6-0 to approve his evaluating First Wind’s application, despite his being a real estate agent employed by H.C. Haynes Inc. of Winn, which owns land on which many First Wind turbines are proposed to be built.

Phinney said he would not receive any direct benefit from the project or his employer, as required under Maine General Statutes. Board members accepted his statements without comment.

An Upper Pond camp owner, Rainer Egle, 45, of Russikon, Switzerland, earlier this week said Phinney should recuse himself from First Wind deliberations because he believed that Phinney’s employment presented a conflict of interest or at least an appearance of impropriety.

He and other Friends group members said they are suspicious of the company given that it is being investigated by the New York State Attorney General’s Office for possible improper relationships with elected officials in that state.

The company has said that it has cooperated fully with the Attorney General’s Office.

nsambides@bangordailynews.net

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Comments
17 comments on this item
On 10/23/08 at 3:53 AM, rockstars wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Let the bribing begin. Ever read the short story by MarkTwain about a small town which prided itself on it's piousness was tricked by the author for saying good by morals hello gold. Hadlyville is the name. Reminds me of Lincoln and ME gov. employees who have been bribed already. Wind farms are the greatest things since sliced bread. If you don't want one in your back yard you are anti corporation/environment. We tried , out here at Stetson Mt., to call First Wind for almost 2 months ... only getting an answering machine. No returns of our calls. When we finally got a returned call, Matt Kearn , project manager for the Stetson Mt. wind farm wanted to visit me. I asked a few neighbors to meet with him as well. That day May 22, '08 was the last day to file intervenor status with LURC.... Gov. Baldaci signed emminent domain for transmission lines in ME. Does that seem orchestrated to you?

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On 10/23/08 at 3:54 AM, rockstars wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Correction, May 22, '07.

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On 10/23/08 at 4:04 AM, rockstars wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Deep pockets buying off the good people in ME. First Wind has changed it's name from UPC LLC to Evergreen LLC to the current name First Wind LLC since They first came to ME. LLC stands for limited liability corporation. They will change their name and are not liable for damage to person or property. Who is paying for the bribes since First Wind is losing millions every year? Why did the town of Lee change it's collective mind about lending First Wind money for more bribes? Why did Rep. Darrell Issa from Ca. interfere in a ME hearing for a wind farm in the western part of the state? He said only cabinet level employees could testify at public hearings by order of the president. Enron was into wind farms. Could we have used up Enron executives in ME ? Business practices are eerily similiar.Same disdain for humanity.

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On 10/23/08 at 7:26 AM, Thinkaboutit wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Having lived in Maine all my life...what really gets my goat about these WIND FARMS is once they are in place ... the people that have to look at them don't benifit from them. It would seem to me that if these OUT OF STATERS want to ruin my view than I should get my electrical rate reduced drastically..Instead there is no change in my bill...and the WIND FARM OWNERS make millions...Maine is moving in the WRONG DIRECTION.

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On 10/23/08 at 8:37 AM, Bangorian wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Great News for Lincoln. Hopefully this will get some development going up there and help with the terrible local economy.

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On 10/23/08 at 9:12 AM, robertg222 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It's just part of the gorebull warming scam.

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On 10/23/08 at 9:15 AM, PoorMan wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

First I want to say I think with is the way to go. I like the wind mills in Mars hill and I would put two or three on my land if I had the elevation. But I also agree a little with Thinkaboutit, The town that these farms go into should have put in any application in their towns a benifit to their own peoples electric rates. I know this is a private business that they are doing the american dream and making as much as possible, thats business but maybe if this helps everyone in the area every month on that bill they will be more receptive to the farms, don't get me wrong the town of mars hill lovered their taxes because of the farm. People just want to get as much a benifit as possible just like first wind wants to make as much money as possible. WIND is GOOD for every one, period. It's funny how the oil truck pulls up to our house and 200 gallons of oil is pumped into or house then send the 700+ dollars to OPEC and crab about the federal debt. Ya most of the money will leave the state of maine on these wind mills but at least it is still in the USA.

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On 10/23/08 at 12:04 PM, Alexander_Hunt wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I am thrilled that the planning board did not get swayed by a few people that are hurting for a moral compass and have chosen to adopt the no windmills for Lincoln as their crusade. This is a fantastic oportunity for Lincoln. If this business is discuraged because of a few people what will it do to anyone that wants to invest in this town or state?

Thank You Lincoln Planning Board!

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On 10/23/08 at 12:56 PM, Alexander_Hunt wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

These Friends of Rollins Ridge are no friends of Lincoln. They are on the edge of reality. One equated this with Tiananmen Square and "First Wind is the biggest corporation in the world". Another one of them said they used to watch the moon rise over Rollins Mountain from Silver Lake in Lee! The Moon does not rise in the West! They are on the edge.

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On 10/23/08 at 5:20 PM, rockstars wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Everybody is on the edge if they don't like bribery and corrupt corporations...Right Alexander-Hunt?

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On 10/23/08 at 7:18 PM, cocochanel wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I found it entertaining the comments that Mr. Epp made about all the medical issues that the wind turbines cause, apparently he hasn't noticed the gaint paper mill sitting in the middle of town, not to open another can of worms but i'm pretty sure the nasty stuff coming out of the stacks aren't good for you much less the smell. But I guess thats the smell of money.

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On 10/23/08 at 7:19 PM, getreal wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

This is what erks me about this state....anytime a company wants to come in and build something beneficial some idiots try to put a stop to it! Views are wonderful and piousness is fine but come on people! Get real. This will bring jobs and money to our state. Enviromentalist are so hypocritical. We need to utilize clean, renewable resourses and wind is a great choice. It beats carbon dioxide and even nuclear waste. Your view from your porch will be one of progress, revenue, and a benefit to the community. This state seems to be more interested in collecting their welfare than actually contributing to something that may put them to work!

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On 10/23/08 at 8:52 PM, rockstars wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

cocochanel...That is a smelly paper mill. Denmark has had land based wind farms for decades. Due to the fact that the electricity is sporadic and has caused so many illnesses....they are no longer used there. This should be acknowledged. Don't be afraid of facts. We all want what is best for ME. Unless ...someone has been bribed. Then it is full steam ahead LUV me some wind farms. The good people opposing the wind farm in Lincoln are way too smart for First Wind. That and the fact that First Wind is broke and the banks aren't lending. It's over. Of course, First Wind will puff and bluff, but it's over and they know it.

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On 10/24/08 at 3:11 PM, Bangorean wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I'd say there's not much fact in this matter being aired from either position. The only concept that seems viable at this time is that it's getting pushed too hard too fast. Is this a tax boondoggle completely? DO the locals have to look at these things, provide benefits and receive nothing in return? Do we remember the powerplant over in Chester and the one in Ashland? Do we remember the good 'ol State of Maine getting screwed out of twenty-some-odd million dollars by the plant owners for NOT building an additional plant? Did the plant owners buy back the plants for $1.00, dismantle (some) of them and sell them out in the western U.S.? Maybe I'm hallucinating, but I think we've been here before. Don't let them shove it down your throat until you have all the answers. Rembember the Big A Dam project? Big $$ for GNP if they flooded everything up there - leaving 2 guys to run the power station with all the money flowing directly out-of-state. "It'll save the mill" (NOT). PERMANTENT job numbers would be nice? Economic security in wind power? If it's there, spell it out. If I don't have to subsidize it, and it's viable, SPELL IT OUT. If it's just to benefit a few landowners (ya, ya, I like Hayneses as much as anyone) and provide profits only through tax incentives, I'm not sure I'd call that viable.

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On 10/24/08 at 3:12 PM, Bangorean wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Permanent, not permantent.

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On 10/26/08 at 8:40 AM, jms92977 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

For you people against progress in Lincoln, ME what are you offerring that is better for us? The previous comment writtten: "I have to look at it and it doesn't benefit me"...Hello?... does every truck passing by benefit you, or every store you have to look at? So are you saying "lets make sure we tell every business that is looking into Lincoln to start or grow its company that everyone, whether succesful or unemployed, must benefit from this success". I am sure companys will be beating down our door because were are so special up here.When you came to live in Lincoln or made your decision to stay, did the town council promise you this wonderful view for the rest of your life? I dont think so, but if you have these legal papers by all means lets see it and hear you compalin. it would be nice if we could all work at Lincoln paper and tissue and life would be simple with no change and we all could leave our rose colored glasses on but sorry reality has hit Lincoln

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On 10/30/08 at 6:21 AM, accidentalactivist wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

You will never see an investagation like Cuomo's in Maine. That's because the crumbs start wth Baldacci who said in this paper 'Aroostook County? They'll try anything. They're so poor, thats exactly where we want economic development" Translation: They're Desperate. And there are not enough people to see you Try Anything. Go for it!! Heck, bring your $ and go through the FRONT door. Call it Coincidence. Windmills near Downtowns? Go for it! Lakes? Even better! Massive skylines? Ca-ching! Powerlines and cell towers? They love eminent domain, it's the only way they can sell their homes! Real estate agents? On every planning board. Public officials? They've got relatives. Business folk? Same 10 people on every committee in the County: Now that's progress. Let me lead the way! Next up? Have I got a casino for you!!!' ...... And they wonder why people high-tail it out of the County.

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