First Wind is not in compliance with state law on noise in Mars Hill. Why isn't DEP making them obey the law? Why has Gov. Baldaci and his group decided public hearings are no longer necessary before a town gives these criminals the green light? When tourism and this beautiful state is totally destroyed ..you will hear a gigantic Oops. We didn't know. Well , our legislators and representatives are getting paid to know. Why wait for action against a stealth govt. It is the same as NAFTA , the Iraq war etc. Our reps. are making more money from special interests than their salaries. First Wind is being investigated for bribery of public officals in NY. So don't worry about pay to play here in ME. The legal system has come down hard. First Wind volunteered to sign a pledge. No more bribes. Do you feel all better? Can we trust DEP and Gov. Baldaci?

FOLLOW THE MONEY. Keep a careful eye on all government officials who support wind and see which ones end up with big fat jobs with the wind and electric companies.

The wind companies come into Maine and herald that Maine is the Saudi Arabia of wind. Well, I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but they tell this to every state they come into. It's part of the con. The reality is the only good wind in Maine is offshore or in the western mountains. If you look at the wind resource map, interior Maine, including Aroostook and Penobscot counties has terrible wind resources. See for yourself at:http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps_none.asp Just click on Maine. So why are they coming into places like Aroostook and Penobscot? The answer is simple - they are not harvesting wind but really are harvesting the 1.9 cents per KW government subsidy, otherwise known as your hard earned money. The scammers are out in force and they are preying on municipalities that they feel won't offer them any resistance.

The article notes the output is 60MW at peak winds. Peak winds happen once in a blue moon. They will be extremely lucky to get 20MW. This is a con.

Shame on the public officials turning a blind eye to the truth. Hopefully the Lincoln group will shut the thieves down and this will serve as a model for other towns.

Take a look at the wind map for Maine:

http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/maps_template.asp?stateab=me

99% of the state is in the POOR category.

Some of the western mountains are MARGINAL or FAIR.

Only the offshore areas are even GOOD or better.

Lincoln is not within 50 miles of even a MARGINAL area.

Granted, this map is at 50 meters altitude, the Rollins project wants 100 meters, so it will be better higher up.

But ask yourself why a company that is $600 million in debt, and so dependent on tax subsidies, wants so much to build here?

Could it be because the wind maps are all wrong, and the power is really there, and they'll extract and deliver it for you?

Or could it be because the executives can make money off the tax breaks.

Find out what First Wind did at Mars Hill, and ask yourself if you want that to happen to Lincoln.

http://www.friendsoflincolnlakes.org/videos.html

Not in my back yard. I want the power generated in New hampshire and brought here on underground lines so I can turn on my computer in my fake log cabin and pretend I am getting back to nature. I love to see a dam (with a fishway) or a wind mill turning. It means gas , oil and coal prices will stay lower longer. I don't need a permit to put up a wind mill in my yard except maybe how tall . If you don't want land used some way buy it and use it your way. get your group together buy it and pay the taxes.

And when the peak winds blow the turbines shut down. Blade friction causes fires. Mars Hill got 5,000 for their fire dept. Stetson II got 0. There are miles and miles of forests around the wind farm . It took the volunteer fire dept. 1 hour to get to my a 100 yr. old farm which burned down close to the wind farm house .

The Maine govorner's office, DEP and AG office needs to be shut down and investigated. This whole nightmare would be a comedy if it wasn't Maine's future at stake.

What will help the most, windmills operating at 24% efficiency inland or ones offshore at 85%? If Foulwind genuinely wanted to help the environment they would build offshore. They are not green but greedy. Federal subsidies, tax breaks, state and federal loopholes and ratepayers building their transmission lines for them is why they are here. Are we expected to bail out all busunesses sloppily run like the automakers, banks and insurance companies while their bosses hide their multi million dollar salaries in the Bahamas? If Maine Yankee was rebuilt and fired up these wind scams would go bankrupt. They cannot compete now without Fed. subsidies. The pollution credits will be sold to coal fired plants which means they will continue polluting instead of cleaning up their processes. Wind companies can claim oil tankers are turning around and heading back to Arabia pumping their crude back into the desert because of Mars Hill and some might be simple enough to believe it. IT IS A CON GAME AND A SCAM!!! Some locals don't care about Maine but thankfully a lot of us do. If it does not stop here these crooks will have thousands of windmills from Eastport to Fort Kent, and Mass. and Conn. will still need more power. The only ones in favor of windpower are the ones making money off the leases. Period.

The project still needs approval from the DEP, That makes me feel so much better! The DEP let First Wind build transmission lines right through a deer yard in Prentiss. I always thought cutting trees in a deer yard was a no no. Apparently First Wind is above the laws of Maine. State and federal agencies have been pushing these projects through, to heck with what the people who have to live near an Industrial site want. I have no doubt, it will pass with flying colors in Lincoln, unless The Friends of Lincoln Lakes can stop them. It amazes me that a company so deeply in debt can come to Maine, and our Govorner rolls out the red carpet for them. I also am wondering why First Wind started the towers at Stetson Mountain turning the beginning of December, and then shut them off? They are just setting idle now, wonder what the problem is? That might be a good story for the Bangor Daily to find out...How about some good reporting?

First Wind contracted a year ago to buy 370 MW of turbines from Clipper Windpower. Clipper then revealed that it was spending $135 million to replace gear boxes and repair de-laminating blades on the first few wind turbines they have installed. Clipper's major investor replaced the CEO with one of their own employees, the stock has dropped from over $10 to less than $1 since September. So not only is First Wind sucking wind, they are in bed with a greenhorn turbine outfit that is on the ropes. Is this a recipe for a successful project in your community?

The only thing that is keeping the wind industry afloat is the extraordinary popular delusion they have successfully created that wind power is clean, green, and efficient. Obama is smart enough to see through the hype. There will be no huge surge in bailout money for wind farms. Towns that are under assault from the wind industry's sudden invasion of Maine need only take a responsible wait and see attitude. Ignoring the plain language of your town plan and zoning ordinance and Issuing permits for wind power is one of the worst decisions a town board can make, because it sets a precedent for virtually any type of enterprise to demand equal treatment. When the turbines are abandoned, the only way to have them removed will be to allow some additional development in their place. Gambling casinos on the mountain tops anyone? The roads and power infrastructure are already there.

Ahhhhh...the NIMBY parade is out in force. Too bad you folks are a MINORITY faction within a representative system of democracy. Look at the various national and State polls...relative to other forms of energy production people prefer wind power. Sorry you don't. And until you come up with a way to permit, pay for, and succesfully implement off-shore wind power, stop acting like it is an option. At this point it is not.

Sorry Focus541, but it seems that minority you talk of is getting bigger by the day! The more people learn about these projects, the more that are against them, cause we know the truth! Wind Industry is going down faster than the stock markets! Every day I check windwatch.org to read about more problems the wind companys are having. From broken blades to burning turbines and accidents on the job, no financing, companys that make turbines are shutting down and laying off people as we speak. Doesn't sound like a great future for them, and Steve Thurston is right, "Obama is smart enough to see through the hype." So it will only be a matter of time before these boys are running away to join the next get rich quick thing that comes along! Don't let the door to Maine hit ya in the butt!

First Wind has to buy the Clipper Windpower turbines as they are available and pay cash. Maybe that is the reason all 17 turbines have been moved in to Stetson II before the project is even approved. (without a public hearing)Now the question is , why does First Wind have to pay cash. Looks like Clipper Windpower is in poor financial shape. So is First Wind. Plus First Wind has numerous lawsuits against it in different states. ..is over a half billion in debt. In their SEC report , they admit lawsuits may be a problem....the IRS may be a problem and a little thing called good will. The Town of Mars Hill and Lincoln approved projects before the ink was dry on promises of money.Gov. Baldaci has ignored the fact that his new best friends are criminals. Who is laughing now? me

I am disapointed not to find a story this morning on the outcome of this meeting. Was there no one there to report on this meeting?

No story this morning to report about this meeting? Big news for the Lincoln area, and we hear NOTHING!

Whoever it is that keeps suggesting First Wind is installing Clipper wind turbines at Stetson I & II, and Rollins is just flat out wrong. The turbines they are installing are the GE 1.5 MegaWatt series, look at the website!! I think GE is a pretty stable business entity. GE's stocks are down relatively but in this economic climate everyone's value has tanked!! The problem with the argument you folks are making in this comment section is that is predicated upon complete speculation. And Ruby, please fill us in on the 'Big news' you have from the meeting yesterday. The reason there is no news is because it is not worthy of a story. People want wind power and support it...did you see the article today discussing the new 'Wind Technology' program they are going to start at NMCC in the county? Why would these people be setting up a whole education program if the public was against wind farms? And why would they set this up anticipating the creation of 60 to 100 jobs if, as you seuggested above, the 'Wind Industry is going down faster than the stock markets!'? Again, EVERYONE'S stocks are tanking, so these statements make no sense in the current climate. Obama ran on a campaign of change not more of the same. Your comments suggest continuing with more of the same (i.e. Bush's support of non-renewable energy sources).

Focus 541... Obama ran on change, not more of the same. Well, First Wind getting the red carpet treatment , and under such a heavy legal cloud...is the same. Pay for play in Ill. It is not a partisan issue. It is what is best for the state of Maine . You cannot believe anything on the First Wind website. The Rollins project / Stetson II is in advanced stage of planning? Jan. 19 is the final day of input for Stetson II. Does this mean public input and the appeal will not make any difference in steam roller politics? I rest my case.

As for Clipper Wind turbines not being used ...You may be right. We all need to be careful about where we get our information. Let's start off by googling the Shaw group....big backers of First Wind. As well as the SEC report on First Wind's financial situation. I think we should all breathe and not be guilty of flame throwing. Myself included. But living right at Stetson , I can assure you, local jobs are greatly exaggerated. Two men in their late teens were out helping a dog on my road. They are working on the wind farm. They are from N.H. There are a lot of out of work locals who would have greatly appreciated those jobs. I notice that anti wind farmers use a lot of facts , but pro wind farmers are mostly flame throwers....so give us the facts if you have any.. The pro wind farmers used language so vile on the friends of lincoln lakes website ...they just took down the public forum.

Focus 541...Look at the SEC report on First Wind. As of July.'08 ..they were using GE Energy , Clipper Windpower turbines. They planned on buying 395 more. As I said, the First Wind website is not a place to go for information. SEC report is more reliable. "Violations of environmental laws in certain jurisdictions including with respect to certain violations of laws protecting migrating birds and endangered species may result in criminal penalties." That's the SEC report. The Audabon Society supports Setson II becauses when they were against a propsed wind farm in Western ME....their members were cancelling memberships right and left. Go to friends of lincoln lakes ..they have a link to the SEC report. As for training for Wind Technology...that is truly sad. How about all the manufacturing jobs and pensions lost due to errors on the part of law makers. Pay to play.

I do not see why the wind mills are being being apposed. I have traveled through California and stopped and viewed the wind mills they have on Rte. 10 and there are hundreds of them. They are not noisy nor do they turn that fast. I'm surprised that the people opposing them don't want to make the light companies bury their transmission lines as they are an eye sore. Maine has one of the highest light rates in the United States. Dam power is opposed and so was tidal power. We need to make our power competive so that businesses will come to Maine. Most of the people opposing them are either out of staters, from southern Maine or real estate agents that worry what it will do to their sales.

From the SEC report that you reference (pgs. 74 and 75) ..."Wind Turbine Purchases (Section Header). Because turbine demand has exceeded overall market supply in recent years, we secure our supply of turbines well in advance of construction by pre-ordering turbines to match a planned level of construction across our portfolio. We have entered into purchase contracts with GE Energy and Clipper Windpower for turbines with an aggregate generating capacity in excess of 1,300 MW, which are scheduled to be delivered or commissioned between 2008 and 2013. We expect this supply to be sufficient to meet all of our anticipated turbine needs in 2008 and 2009 and approximately 80% of our anticipated needs in 2010. We intend to enter into negotiations with GE Energy, Clipper Windpower and other turbine suppliers to secure our additional turbine needs."

So they are basically in the market to secure wind turbines from either GE or Clipper. By the way, GE and Clipper are two separate companies with two separate product lines. You seem to be melding the two or thinking that GE makes turbines for Clipper. That is not the case. Now, I know for a fact that the turbines on Stetson I and II are GE 1.5 MW turbines through folks I know that are now working at the GE subsidiary facility in Newton, Iowa. Based on what is in their SEC report, it seems Firstwind has simply come to the realization that Clipper is a failing outfit and is going with GE for now. Why don't you folks dig up some garbage on GE? Oh yeah, because they are a respected company that is providing and creating jobs in tough economic times. It's funny how you folks try and tell only half of the story and then act like the whole outfit is evil. Also, notice how Firstwind does not corner themselves by mentioning only two companies. If another company (not GE or Clipper) comes out with a comparable product at a better price they will use that instead. This is how free market business works. Firstwind has realized Clipper is a sham and is now using GE. I really don't see how you get that Firstwind is somehow corrupt because of this.

You stated, "How about all the manufacturing jobs and pensions lost due to errors on the part of law makers". Why should we focus on the jobs we lost? Why not focus on jobs we can create through new industries and technologies. The NMCC Wind Technology program should be heralded as it is forward-thinking and preparing to be in a competitive position within a growing global industry. There is nothing 'sad' about progress and moving forward. The only 'sad' thing is how a lot of people from Maine (and I am one of them) tend to dwell on the past and in the meantime miss out on an opportunity to benefit from development. Perhaps we could get a facility built here that manufactures wind turbines. And maybe the jobs gained there could replace the ones you complain about losing.

Read p. 18 right at the bottom of the SEC report. We have entered into purchase contracts for 395 Liberty turbines made by Clipper Windpower . shoddy equipment does not bother First Wind. They did not pay for a transformer made by surplec...said it was "unmerchantable." It was installed in the Mars Hill Wind Farm anyway. I like progress. I do not like corporate greed and trampling of human rights and destroying the environment for virtually no energy.

I have been to Mars Hill and stood right beside the turbines Mary. They were quiet. so I know what you are saying. But somehow humidity and direction plays into it. If you live near a wind farm you have to keep your windows shut and fans on to drown out the noise. Those poor people are still awakened by the noise at night. The DEP has stated that Mars Hill is not in compliance with state law. But they don't care. These people are lawless as well as the DEP.

Focus 541...You are right . GE Energy and Clipper Wind Power are seperate.

Well, maybe Lincoln won't have to worry about First wind after all. I have heard this morning by a reliable source that First Wind hasn't started up the towers on Stetson Mountain yet because they are"broke." At first I thought they meant the towers were broke, but it sure makes alot more sense that that person meant that it is First Wind that is broke. Where's the story on this, Bangor Daily????? Would love to hear all about it.