More wind in Oakfield
I’m surprised the Oakfield wind development project has not been in the news very much. First Wind has asked for (and been granted) an increase in the scope of their project. Now the hills around Oakfield and Island Falls will have 50 turbines that are 450 feet tall instead of 34.
Wouldn’t this be visible from the summit of Mount Katahdin? Is wind power really enough of a game-changer to offset the loss of these towns’ bucolic nature? What else do they have left?
Dan Williams
Sidney
Shortsighted cuts
The Bangor Region Public Health Advisory Board, whose members include Shannon Bonsey, Penquis; Dale Hamilton, Community Health and Counseling Services; Bruce Campbell, Wellspring; Linda Abernethy, Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center; Dyan Walsh, Eastern Area Agency on Aging; Dr. Robert Allen, Penobscot Community Health Care; Martha Eastman, Pro-Elder Consulting; Nelson Durgin, Bangor City Council; Dr. Robert Dana, University of Maine; C. Shawn Yardley, Bangor Health and Community Services; and Dennis Marble, Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, have great concerns about the cuts to the Fund For a Healthy Maine in the governor’s supplemental budget.
These shortsighted cuts will result in the elimination of essential prevention efforts in Maine, which have proven to return $7.50 in future health care costs for every dollar spent — a return on investment rarely found in today’s economy.
Since 1999, Maine has proudly utilized the fund as it was initially intended, targeting tobacco and preventable chronic conditions. Much of this work is done through the local Healthy Maine Partnerships, the foundation of Maine’s public health system. HMPs are currently proposed for elimination, which will eliminate Maine’s prevention system and our ability to respond to emerging public health issues such as H1N1 and bath salts.
A bipartisan legislative committee commissioned to study the Fund For a Healthy Maine voted unanimously in December 2011 to protect the fund for the purpose it was intended and the Bangor Region Public Health Advisory Board strongly supports its findings.
Maine’s current economic state requires difficult decisions, but prevention and its long-term paybacks should not be sacrificed.
Shannon Bonsey
Chairwoman, PHAB
Nice while it lasted
While watching a recent group discussion among Maine governors of the past three decades, I was struck with a sense of pride. We have had a remarkable run of distinguished gentlemen in the Blaine House who have served with intelligence, class and an honest concern for the people.
Oh, well. I guess it’s really true that all good things must come to an end.
Richard Simpson
Orrington
For the good of all
Freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Pretty simple, isn’t it?
Just because our elected officials are Christian and choose to express their faith does not somehow diminish anyone else’s faith or lack thereof.
Considering the real-world tragedy of a little Maine child missing, our state bankrupt or nearly so, two unresolved wars with our kids coming home to no jobs and many Mainers trying to figure out how to heat their homes, it’s a good thing our elected officials are praying for guidance and help.
Maybe some humility from our elected officials will help give them the strength of character to make the right decisions for our state and the people of Maine. So maybe we shouldn’t get so caught up in our own beliefs to prevent us from considering the good of all.
Kimberly Mitchell
Greenbush
Open for all business
I was disappointed the staff of the Public Utilities Commission recommended not approving the joint venture between First Wind and Emera.
It is hard to believe during these difficult economic times that the PUC is considering rejecting a deal that could bring billions in private investment and over 1,000 new jobs to Maine. However, that’s the case.
In the coming days, the PUC will deliberate over the recommendations of an examiner’s report that would slow to a crawl major investment into several Maine wind projects.
As a Washington County commissioner, I have seen firsthand the many benefits that well-planned wind projects can bring to a local economy. The two Stetson Wind projects near Danforth not only created hundreds of construction jobs and are delivering clean energy, but they’re helping fund important county priorities.
I’ll agree that wind is not “the” answer but it certainly can be a part of the answer. Regardless, a $3 billion investment in Maine is not something to take lightly. I like construction projects in my county because they mean employment and economic activity. If Maine’s open for business, then let it be open for all business.
I urge the PUC to find a way balance the interests of ratepayers with the need to bring real economic development to Northern Maine. There must be a middle ground that can be reached that allows for this joint venture and the economic development it will bring.
Chris Gardner
Chairman, Board of Commissioners
Washington County
Supports Sheriff Ross
Suggestions that Sheriff Glenn Ross did not act with integrity regarding the investigation of Rev. Bob Carlson is adding salt to a community wound that has barely stopped bleeding. I have known Sheriff Ross for several years through our mutual work with the Penobscot County Triad. Triad is an organization made up of law enforcement, agencies serving seniors and senior citizens working together to protect our seniors.
The sheriff has effectively moved the mission of Triad forward by offering his time and resources while collaborating with a wide range of people and organizations. Thanks to his support, Penobscot County Triad has offered such successful programs as the 911 house numbering project, prescription drug take-back and educational events for seniors and professionals working with seniors.
I am proud to have made Bangor my home. I rest easier raising my family here knowing we are well served by such upstanding leaders as Sheriff Glenn Ross.
Kristie Miner
Bangor
Searsport tank questions
The enormous propane tank that Conoco Phillips wants to build in Searsport will be discussed by the developers beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at Searsport Town Hall. Since this project will affect our region most significantly, it is important this meeting be well attended, especially by the leaders in neighboring towns along Route 1.
What will be the effect on traffic? What will be the effect on neighbors? Why are we importing from foreign countries when we already have enough? What will be the effect on tourism? What are the safety concerns? How many real permanent jobs will there be? What about the pipelines for gas we keep hearing about?
I am sure there are a hundred more questions that need answers. Let’s get them.
Jane Sanford
Belfast
“Maine’s current economic state requires difficult decisions, but…”
Ms. Bonsey if I had a nickel for every statement against LePage’s plan that has started this way I would be part of the 1%. Everyone admits cuts need to be made, and every one of those people have said but don’t cut my thing and every single one of those people have offered no suggestion on just what should be cut instead. Do they expect LePage to perform a miracle by cutting something that will affect no one adversely?
Ms. Bonsey, we can go a long way towards funding these necessary programs by repealing Governor LePage’s tax cuts and putting a stop to his attempt to make all retirement income tax free. While I know the Governor wants to have lower taxes for himself now and a tax free income once we send him into retirement in 2014, he needs to remember that the Bible he thumps tells him to love his neighbor as himself. With an about face on cutting his own taxes, perhaps the Governor would cease embarrasing Mr. Simpson and 61% of the rest of the state.
Governor LePage does love his neighbors. Of course he lives in a pretty exclusive neighborhood.
Dimwitted, but exclusive.
SHANNON,
You sound like my wife who when she goes out shopping and spends a bunch of money will come home and tell me how much money she has saved me.
RICHARD,
Was that a little snipe at the most common sense Governor Maine has ever had?
CHRIS,
The PUC is right and you are wrong!
You’re the best troll.
Thank You,
This is one of the sweetest things you have ever said about me.
So, can’t take a joke? Oldest family joke on the books. If both of you are serious, you do the shopping.
Mr. Gardner, if you truely believe that wind power will create “over 1,000 new jobs” in Maine you should resign from your position. Your statement here show’s such a lack of understanding of the enrtire wind power issue that it is prima facia eveidence that you haven’t done your homework and are simply looking for more First Wind hand outs to your commission in the form of “community benefits” payments. (Otherwise known as “pay offs” to gain your support.) You are the epitome of a welfare politician who finds it easier to look for a handout from out of state wind power developers than to look for a true solution to the problems that burden your county. Welfare is one of the prime reasons your county is in the position it’s in and you just further exacerbate it.
Wind blows.
Give the Governor a chance.
Christians are the most persecuted of any religious group in the world (and I’m talking about present day).
So the Inquisition, the Crusades and the Holocaust don’t count? Who would have a more difficult time being elected President, a Christian or an atheist?
An atheist could never become president of the US. Sad. But an impossibility.
If we got rid of the Electoral College, an atheist might, in 30 years, have a chance. Roman Catholic Chile elected an atheist, Michelle Bachelet, in its next to last presidential election. Jefferson, Lincoln, and Taft were all accused of being atheists, but were all deists.
“Present Day” means things happening at the present time or in this generation.
Your temporal scope is narrow and your geographic scope wide. I would not wish to be a Muslim in the American South, a Christian in the Nigerian north, or a Jew in East Texas. The one thing these three “religious” regions share is a hatred of non-believers like me.
Facts, EJ, facts.
List all this persecution, please.
http://www.persecution.com/public/restrictednations.aspx?clickfrom=bWFpbl9tZW51
LOL
In order for Christians to be the “most” persecuted, as you claim, you have to compare the persecution of Christians to the persecution of other groups. This web sit does not do that.
And it is really talking only about “evangelical” Christians. Look at Ethiopia. According to the web site you have us look at, Ethiopia — which is 65% Christian — is a place where Christians are persecuted. That seems odd — the majority are Christians, and yet the majority of people are being persecuted. When you look closely, who does the site claim is persecuted? Western-style “evangelical” Christians. Who, supposedly, is doing the persecuting? The Orthodox Coptic Christians. Christians persecuting Christians, kind of like the Inquisition, and the religious wars of Reformation-Era Europe. Christians behaving badly. So what else is new?
And if the Evangelical Christians were to win in Ethiopia, you sure can bet they would persecute the Orthodox Coptic Christians.
And you can find similiar sites for Muslims, Jews and other religions
In this generation we’ve seen Catholic terrorists and Protestant terrorists kneecaping and bombing one another in Northern Ireland, and Fundametalist Christians blowing up gay night clubs and shooting doctors in the U.S. We’ve seen Pastor Jim Jones poisoning his flock. We’ve seen Anders Breivik gunning down children. And certainly within my lifetime the super-Christian Ku Klux Klan was burning crosses, committing murders and bombing churches in the South. But do we really have to play this silly game, EJ? Do we really have to point out that people who claim the same religion as ours sometimes behave very badly? Every religious group has its extremists.
I’m often embarrassed that you call yourself a Christian. And I’m certainly embarrassed by people like Harold Camping, David Koresh and Eric Rudolph. But I’m not going to stop being a Christian just because some Christians behave very badly, and I hope not to be judged by the behavior of the extremists within the Christian faith.
Likewise, we should not blame all Hindus, or all Muslims, or all Jews, or all atheists, for what a few do. When you blame a whole group for what a few extremists do, that’s called “prejudice.”
Again, EJ Parson and facts… never the two shall meet.
Hey! Where you been? I’ve really missed your kind, insightful, respectful and meaningful input.
Or a Christian or anyone else!
Well perhaps if christians didn’t try to push their religion on the rest of the world they would not be so persecuted. If you love your religion, that’s great. Please leave me to choose mine
Christians are not forcing their religion on anyone. And we won’t behead you if you don’t follow our God.
Perhaps you should talk to the IRA, the NLFT, Anders Breivik, the LRA, KKK, Hutaree, Eric Rudolph, and Scott Roeder.
Which one of those groups are beheading? Which one of these groups are killing, maiming, mutilating or enslaving?
You should have left “killing” out of your question…… past, present (within our lifetime) and unfortunately future.
Christians did that to my ancestors because they thought they were heathens needed to be saved.
Are we having a contest to determine which religious group is able to behave the worst? Yes, the last century has seen Catholic terrorists, Protestant terrorists, Hindu terrorists, Muslim terrorists, Jewish terrorists, even atheist terrorists. We could all sling mud at other religious groups, and then discover that there are extremists and even terrorists who claim to have the same religion (or non-religion) as we have. Let’s not have that kind of contest. I’d just as soon not play the “let’s sling mud at the other religion” game today.
Christians and most other organized religions have been enslaving women since day one.
Christians are the largest of all religious groups in the world, which means they are in charge in more places and more situations than any other group. EJ’s claim that the people who are in charge in the most situations are also the most persecuted appears to be oxymoronic.
Once again, proof:
http://www.persecution.com/public/restrictednations.aspx?clickfrom=bWFpbl9tZW51
Okay, EJ. You and I agree that there are places in the world where Christians are being persecuted. (Christians in India pray for secular parties to win the elections, because Hindu nationalist parties persecute Christians and Muslims alike — a good argument for the separation of church and state).
But you are smart enough to know that an opinion expressed on one web site — written from a particular point of view — does not constitute proof of anything.
And you claim Christians are “the most persecuted of any religious group in the world.” In order to make that claim you have to compare with other groups. This web site makes no comparison with the persecutions of other religions. So this web site does nothing toward proving your point.
How many countries have outlawed Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, etc?
As for this website, if there were a hundred websites that supported what I’ve claimed, it still wouldn’t be enough for you or luvGSD and the like.
EJ, you say “most persecuted.” The web site you recommend makes no comparisons between persecuted groups.
EJ, as I mentioned in one of my other posts today, Christianity is the largest religious group in the world. So it would not be odd if more Christians are persecuted than any other religious people, because there are more Christians. And at the same time, it is likely that more Christians are themselves persecuting other religions, because there are more Christians — and often it is the Christians who are in the positions of power.
So it is likely: 1) more Christians are persecuted, and 2) more Christians are doing the persecuting, because 3) there are more Christians.
Your logic is illogical.
The website you provided only recognizes Christian martyrs. It doesn’t prove anything.
Not any more…used to burn atheists and others at the stake!
No, you’ll just kill the old fashion way, with a bullet.
Tell that to the victims of the Spanish Inquisition, to the residents of the Holy Lands after the Crusades, to the recipients of Christian charity in the form of pogroms in Russia.
Then why are there christian missionaries all over the world proselytizing their faith? They may not behead you, but they will gladly burn you at the stake!
They’re not proselytizing with guns, bombs, or swords. They’re proselytizing with the Word of God. And no one is getting burned at the stake. Get real.
If you had it your way homosexual adults would not be able to adopt or marry because of “your” God. You would not want to rent to them or give them a job because of your God and you would want them to live a life in secret and shame because of your God.
How many men and women in this country have been emotionally beheaded because of how Christians condemn them for their lifestyles and insist that we all live by their creed because “your” god says so? How many have beheaded themselves by suicide because of how and what Christians think and say about them?
If we are indeed a Christian nation then look at the murder statistics in this country. A large majority of those involved have grown up in our so-called Christian nation, would claim that they are supporters of Christianity over any other religion, and many who have been raised by good Christian parents.
You have GOT to be kidding. What other religion floods the airwaves for an entire month with movies, celebrations and specials to celebrate their savior’s birthday? Do we spend a month publicly celebrating other religions holy days? What other religion is pushed into our schools? Our government? How many other men besides Christian have held the highest office in this land?
In this country, it is safe to say that Christianity is the least persecuted. Try being a Muslim who often worries about the safety of themselves and their families, who are judged and condemned for the actions of a group of radicals. Trying being a native american who adheres to the spiritual practices taught and passed down through the ages by their ancestors only to be mocked and exploited at sporting events. How many Christians have been taken from their homes and communities and taken to boarding schools in order to get their religion knocked out of them to assimilate to someone else’s religious practices?
Try being Wiccan, Pagan or Druid in this country. How many Christians have been killed and injured since 911 compared to Muslims? How many other religions try to impose their beliefs in our policies and laws? What other religions tries to impose its beliefs on indigenous populations around the world who already have rich spiritual practices?
Christians are allowed to cram their beliefs and religion down our throats each and every day in this country. They insist that this is a Christian nation, when it clearly is made up of people from every possible religious or spiritual background. You and other Christians have no idea about persecution.
Well said
I said “in the world”. Try again.
I would bet that there have been far more Muslims killed in the past year around the world than Christians. And perhaps if Christians would stop trying to invade people’s lives trying to covert them and “save” them from their “sinful” lives there would not be such hatred for them. If Christians walked the walk instead of just talking the talk, they wouldn’t be so disliked around the world.
You would lose that bet. Just the Christians being killed each year in the African countries would top the world wide number of Muslims being killed. And there are no Christian groups invading countries in order to save them from their sinful lives.
Your last sentence is interesting. Wrong, but interesting.
Persecution reinforces the faith of the unsure and insecure. If it doesn’t exist, they imagine it.
Christians are the largest of all religious groups in the world, which means they are in charge in more places and more situations than any other group. The idea that the people who are in charge in the most situations are also the most persecuted appears to be oxymoronic.
What do you mean by persecuted?
Shannon Bonsey, Richard Simpson: good letters.
Mr. Gardner said, “…created hundreds of construction jobs…”
TEMPORARY construction jobs.
Almst all construction jobs are temporary.
Then those jobs shouldn’t be advertised as being a big deal. Probably much of the work comes “from away” anyway.
Seconding what Dan Williams said … Hey BDN, it’s time to look at the Oakfield wind project from both sides of the issue and not just reprint the First Wind talking points. There is a lot at stake here. The environmental impact is stunning and the invasion of some beautiful, pristine lakes is as real as it gets.
“the invasion of some beautiful, pristine lakes is as real as it gets”
Are you telling me that they are planning to put turbines IN the lakes?
No, not like with offshore wind. These 50 story turbines will sit along the shorelines. Their flicker and shadowing will be evident on the water in inside many homes and camps, the noise and vibration will be apparent – especialally once it hits the water as sound if magnified on water, and at night instead of seeing stars and the reflection of the moon on the water we we will see flashing red lights. Loons, bats, eagles, and other winged creatures are at risk as they fly from lake to lake through the approximately 40 wind mills dott by the shore and mountain tops. Will be curious to see what the health effects are …. We already know they need government subsidies to run. Without the taxpayer dollars bankrolling them they are dead. Not sure why there has been no news coverage on this … Other than everyone is on the wind bandwagon.
The problem I have with you and other NIMBY’s is the exaggeration of facts used in your arguments. The turbines will not be built on the shorelines because the shorelines are too low. Until a study is done you have no evidence of shadow flicker and where it will happen. Vibration is a non-issue, the ground does not vibrate for miles around. Sound is an issue but sound is not “magnified” by water. It just isn’t attenuated as fast and sound models take this into account. I could go on about most of the other items but I haven’t found an antiwind person who responds to facts yet.
Now, the subsidies you are completely right about and I agree with you. I despise them and want them ended as well.
You didn’t mention the visual detraction. FIFTY…spinning 450′ tall things…on the tops of hills…are QUITE noticable. The visual impact of these things alone detracts from the idea of wilderness…of being away from population centers. People vacation in Maine because it is quiet, rustic, and rural. Island Falls and Oakfield won’t have that anymore. They don’t have much as it is.
Not in my backyard is EXACTLY appropriate. Find someplace that isn’t in somebody’s backyard.
I guess you think Maine should be preserved for the tourists and to he11 with the people who live here. Your argument applies equally as well to almost any development or to wood harvesting, paper making, new houses, you name it.
There are lots of places that are not in anyone’s back yard. Unfortunately these places truly ARE in the wilderness, not just places with the appearance or “idea” of wilderness. And then the arguments come out that these areas will no longer be wilderness because of the turbines themselves, the necessary roads to service them, and the power lines.
NIMBY doesn’t even fit you people. BANANA is a more apt term. (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody) Or maybe simply BAN.
How ISN’T it an invasion…of a quiet natural setting?
Oakfield prefers Carrots, to the diamonds of their lakes
Does Oakfield prefer to “sell out” for carrots?
Kristie Miner: Like Carlson, just because Glen Ross has been involved in some good works for the community, it doesn’t absolve him from looking the other way during the time period Carlson was molesting kids nor does it absolve him of tipping Carlson off that he was finally under investigation for doing so.
I, too, am concerned that Sheriff Ross appears to have tipped off Pastor Carlson (should I even call him “Pastor,” as his credentials appear to have been false?). Tipping off a suspect gives him time to destroy evidence, flee the jusisdiction, etc., or in this case, escape the legal consequences of his actions by committing suicide. Did Ross consult the State Police before tipping off Carlson? It sounds as though he did this on his own with very little thought.
Chris, It looks like Maine has stagnated…..but GRID scale WIND will kill us. Promoters of GRID WIND do not look past 15 year life span of the turbines. If WIND does have breakthroughs it means rebuilds. Ah, the money keeps sinking into these machines. Maintenance, transmission lines, lawsuuits, appeals. There is no way GRID scale WIND will help Maine.
The jobs are transient and the electricity is sold by Mass companies to Mass towns.
No help to Maine.
The governor is right…lower electrical rates will entice long term jobs.
Go for the wilderness of your county…..people will travel and continue to buy land in Maine because of it’s wilderness not Industrial, bird, bat, bug killing, noisy, sightly 450 foot and growing machines.
Kristie Miner, you said it well. Sheriff Ross is an excellent person doing good for alot of people. We need more leaders like him.