LINCOLN, Maine — Planning board members approved a $500,000 office building connected to a proposed $130 million wind farm, but decided late Monday they needed another meeting to review the turbines.
Poised to be the first governing body to approve the project, board members held a public hearing and questioned officials from First Wind of Massachusetts at Mattanawcook Junior High School for two hours late Monday before tabling the wind farm project for two weeks. About 70 people attended.
The project entails building 40 1.5-megawatt turbines on ridgelines in Burlington, Lincoln, Lee and Winn, with transmission lines in Mattawamkeag. It also needs approval by the other towns, Maine Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
If those approvals come, construction is likely to take a year, First Wind officials said. The approval process is expected to last three or four months.
First Wind officials and some residents touted the project as an economic boon to the region. They said it would create, at maximum capacity, about 60 megawatts of pollution-free electricity and employ as many as 10 full-time workers locally.
“Some people have said that the area doesn’t have enough wind,” said Ryan Chayters, a project manager with First Wind. “If the area was not good enough for this, we would not be here.”
The company had reviewed several alternative sites and the Rollins Mountain site for several years before picking Rollins Mountain, Chayters said.
“These things are not objectionable,” said Alan Smith, owner of Fastco Corp. of Lincoln and president of the local snowmobile club. He said estimates show that U.S. electricity needs will expand by 300 percent over the next six years.
“It is the height of hypocrisy,” Smith said, “to complain about the price of gasoline and oil and to be against wind power.”
But some neighbors who oppose the project expressed fears Monday night that the turbines would blight the pristine ridgeline, lower surrounding land values 20 percent to 35 percent, and create excessive noise and light flicker harmful to human and animal health. They also said the wind power would fail to lower local electrical rates.
Residents Gary Steinberg and Harry Epp of Lincoln said the project violated the board’s land-use regulations. According to their interpretation, the 380-foot turbines were buildings and the project a manufacturing site, of electricity — both not allowed in the area’s rural zone.
“Not only that, the land-use ordinance does not allow any structures or buildings higher than 60 feet in an industrial zone,” Epp said, “or higher than 40 feet in a rural-residential zone. So they really can’t build this thing.”
Planning board members did not comment on Epp’s interpretation.
On 11/18/08 at 8:35 AM,
wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
The writer who wrote yesterday that once a project becomes public knowlege ... it doesn't make any difference what the locals want ... seems to be right. Lincoln does not want wind farms but Lincoln will get them. Remember who your public officials are who don't listen to you...
On 11/18/08 at 8:37 AM,
wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
Don't re-elect them. Out here at Stetson Mt. Kirk Richie was pushing the wind farm on us dumb locals. Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and all other elected govt. officials said it was nothing they could do. Bribery? Does it tie your hands?
On 11/18/08 at 9:01 AM,
siroisb wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
The individuals that are complaing about wind power should maybe get together and buy the land base that these projects will be on.If you don't like the looks of them close your window shade,don't like the noise ( if any) take a ride to the big cities.Hats off to the land owners for making there lands accessible for these projects, let there be WIND.
On 11/18/08 at 10:36 AM,
RubyRose wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
siroisb, for starters, haven't you noticed that the wind people come to the poorest sections of Maine to put up their towers? Just how do you think we can buy the land these projects are being put on? Get real... And no, we don't like the noise (and there WILL be noise) so why do you suggest we take a ride to the city? We moved to these once quiet locations in rural towns to get away from the city. There used to be a time when big industry's were Not zoned for our areas. Prentiss couldn't even have a food takeout place put in because we weren't zoned for a business. Does that sound fair to you? Oh I know, its the MONEY!!!!! It's always about the money in Maine, now isn't it? Too bad the only ones that will actually make any are the wind people. They must think we are soooo stupid! We will gladly pay for other states to get our power, just like a poor old dog with his tongue hanging out saying "yes, master!" Anything for a bone...
On 11/18/08 at 12:04 PM,
SethFortier wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
RubyRose fight to have that electricity stay in your area to reduce your bill. Have that be part of the agreement that goes along with being able to put in the turbines. You say they go to the poorest sections of Maine to put up the towers. My thoughts are that they go where the wind is. If that happens to be in a poor section of Maine take advantage of it. Have money put back into the community so that it's no longer one of the poorest places. Instead of just fighting back, fight to make things better for your community as a whole. And if you benefit some of the rest of us by reducing foreign oil imports and taxes that we pay so much the better. We need to be looking at all the ways available to stop having oil sold here by people who don't like us.
On 11/18/08 at 12:43 PM,
RubyRose wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
Seth Fortier, the wind towers are in Washington county, and border on Penobscot county VERY close to Prentiss. So Penobscot county gets nothing. Any money made goes to Washington County, but it effects our neighborhood the most. They scheduled the first meeting with us the day and hour that our chance to apply for intervenor status ended. Our hands were tied from day 1. The only thing we could do to make it better for us was to have the transmission lines go around our neighborhood. They thought at first they would go right down our road with a 150 foot wide swath cut for the lines. That would have taken out all our buffer trees, so for that one thing the neighborhood is greatful for. It shouldn't be a few people in a community fighting for the rights to cheaper electricity, it should be our elected officials that take a stand for these communitys, but they won't. We called them ALL in the beginning, but found out real quickly that they wouldn't help us. Most wouldn't even talk to us. Mike Michuads office told me to "keep them informed". That was pretty much what they all said IF we got through to them. Shouldn't the people we voted into office be keeping informed on their own? They are the ones that should be making the power stay in Maine, maybe then Mainers wouldn't be so upset about the raping of our mountains and Lands, and all to go to another state.
On 11/18/08 at 1:57 PM,
SethFortier wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
Well Ruby I'm sorry that Mike Michuad didn't do anything for you but you know what....he's useless. That's why I don't vote for him. But plenty of people do. As far as the elected officials being the ones that should be the ones to keep you informed and keeping power in the state. I agree just a little. This is one of the problems in this country, people feel that the government should be doing everything for us. It used to be that people did for themselves. That's the way it should be.Take matters into your own hands. It's your community, don't count on government to do everything. And if they don't do what you think they should, work to get them out of office. We just had an election and Michuad was re-elected with what 60% of the vote going to him.
On 11/18/08 at 4:34 PM,
lincolnmainer wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
I
On 11/18/08 at 4:42 PM,
lincolnmainer wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
All those who moved here from away. Go home. We are not here to accommodate you and for the area to be your own playground. You do not buy much land and when you do you close it down. Then you rely on the local landowners to keep their land open for public use. The group that is against it is headed by people that moved to the area. The people in the group that are lifetime residents are polite when they speak against it.
On 11/18/08 at 5:07 PM,
Environment wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
All of the people who are against First Wind's project seem to keep mentioning the fact that THEY will not be getting any of the power or any of the benefits from the project. Regardless of whether or not people believe there are or aren't benefits to these projects it is irrelevant. First Wind has title, right and/or interest in the land. Therefore, this is a private development project subject to local, state and federal regulations. If they are able to meet these regulations they should be allowed to proceed with their project. Wal*Mart or any other developer would be given the same opportunity under the law. The difference in the instance with First Wind's project is that some people feel that THEY are not getting anything out of the project. Guess what ladies and gentlemen? This is a private landowner developing private land. All you NIMBY's need to realize that First Wind does not owe you anything, and it is not all about YOU.
On 11/18/08 at 7:27 PM,
wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
SethFortier....RubyRose fought so hard against the wind farm she ended up with a severe medical condition. This happened to some people in Mars Hill as well. It is something about having a huge corporation come into a community...the elected officials go along with everything they want...that wears you down. Then you have people like lincolnmainer that just tells you to move. Wind farms brings out the best in some...the worst in others. RubyRose is a courageous talented and good person. I learned that from the wind farm coming to our community. I am not worried about the Stetson Mt. wind farm cranking up at all. It will be so loud right in the back yard of some crazy old men...I fully expect for it to go up in a big bombing type incident.
On 11/19/08 at 10:28 AM,
Headshaker wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
Any approval which is inconsistent with the Land Use Ordinance of the town is subject to appeal by any aggrieved party. It sounds like there will be many in line to appeal the issuance of the permit. Hint: Better do it within 30 days of approval.
On 11/21/08 at 2:20 PM,
Alexander_Hunt wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
The sky is falling. The sky is falling! Come on get a life already.
On 11/23/08 at 2:32 PM,
peaceandquiet wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
What is really happening here represents the tip of the iceberg where wind farm development is concerned. It's a relatively new industry and one that environmental impact agencies and groups have not kept pace with, much to the delight of the developers. Mileage buffers are just now being regulated in other countries, while we here in the northern US consider the impact case by case, and too often after the fact. I can't imagine that anyone on this forum, regardless of politics, would invite an industrial development project into their backyard only to watch their property values plummet.
On 11/27/08 at 9:27 AM,
SteveBird wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
I have a life already, thank you Mr. Hunt.
I'm just trying to keep First Wind from taking a part of it away.
On 11/27/08 at 9:32 AM,
SteveBird wrote:
Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
lincolnmainer wrote:
All those who moved here from away. Go home. We are not here to accommodate you and for the area to be your own playground.
Does that apply to First Wind, as well?
Post a comment about this story
You must be logged in to post a comment.
click here to log in.
