GREENBUSH, Maine — The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting Wednesday night on a proposed 14-turbine industrial wind site called Passadumkeag Wind Park that would be located on Passadumkeag Mountain in Grand Falls Township, directly overlooking Soponac and West lakes.
The meeting, the first of two to be held by the DEP, is scheduled for 7 to 9 p.m. at the Greenbush town office, 132 Military Road.
The DEP wind scoundrels and deceit artists are at it again.
The public play and non-hearing uncivil Kremlinesque process is about to commence.
Here we go again, setting up the rubber stamp of DEP to allow the destruction of another Maine mountain for the folly of unpredictable, unreliable, costly wind power. After the LURC decision on Bowers Mt. in Carroll, this application should be pulled for the same reason. Passadumkeag Mt. is the highest point between Cadillac Mt. and Mt. Katahdin, sitting above some of the state’s highest quality lakes, a massive wetlands complex on the Passadumkeag River that is a rich and diverse waterfowl habitat, and right next to beautiful Nicatous and Duck Lakes where taxpayer funds have preserved from development two of the finest lakes in Maine.
As is typical of DEP, they have failed to let the public know anything about this heinous project, while inking the rubber stamp. Two paragraphs in the BDN a day ahead of the meeting is all the public gets, while the wind developers have years of unfettered access to DEP staff. It raises the question of whose state government it is: the citizens’ or the wind developers?
My advice for those who attend this meeting (not a hearing):
1) Don’t believe anything the developer says. (I understand they positioned one
turbine outside of LURC jurisdiction so that this permit will come before DEP
instead of LURC).
2) ask DEP if they feel an any obligation to protect Nicatous Lake:
A Class 1A Lake
A Scenic Resource of State or National Significance (per the Wildlands Lake Assessment)
Rated OUTSTANDING for scenic value, wildlife and shoreline character
Rated SIGNIFIFCANT for quality of fishery and cultural & historic features
Home to one of Maine’s premier classic Sporting Camps (Nicatous Lodge)
3) ask DEP how they feel about protecting Saponac Pond:
A Scenic Resource of State or National Significance
Rated SIGNIFICANT for its fishery, scenic character, shoreline character and
cultural & historic features.
I hope and pray that the DEP will do the right thing and deny this permit.
Passadumkeag mountain is the crowning glory of the Lowell/ Burlington/Grand Falls region. One of the most beautiful views in the area looking across from Saponac Lake. We’ve already lost the appeal and property value of Escurtasis Lake, why another? Learn the facts about big wind. You’ll hear only one side from the industry. http://ppdlw.org/ Contact Rep. Turner RepBeth.Turner@legislature.maine.gov and Sen. Rosen rrosen113@aol.com and let them know how you feel.
That is a good idea deerrun, but remember that Beth was all cozy with Matt Kearns at the Burlington hearing about the Rollins debacle and was all for it regardless of the impacts. I don’t know about Rosen. I didn’t even hear about this until tonight. The DEP must be OK with quickie meetings and not letting people know ahead of time. Who is setting up the opposition in the area, please post.
Rep. Turner was present and participated at the ribbon cutting for the Rollins Project as we protested across the street. She later that day stated that she hears a 50/50 attitude regarding the turbines and wasn’t sure where she stood. The people she works for and who elected her, (or was she appointed?) should express their opinions and ask her for her stance.
I attended a Department of Environmental Protection meeting March 22 in Canton about the Canton Mountain wind project. The purpose of the meeting was to ask questions about the permit process, but it seems there were no answers.
Questions about bald eagles were deferred to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
Questions on noise complaint protocol could not be answered.
The crowd heard interpretation of Maine laws by the lawyer representing Patriot Renewables, the developer.
Basically, the wind energy statutes are loosely interpreted and many definitions need to evolve, such as possible adverse scenic impact to Mount Blue State Park. That park welcomes more than 70,000 visitors per year, yet the Patriot Renewables’ survey of 22 hikers is the only basis of determining “no adverse scenic impact.”
Even Dr. James F. Palmer, the DEP’s visual expert at the Board of Environmental Protection appeal of Oakfield Wind, suggested the wind law needs clarification in visual impacts.
Surveys should be conducted on-site and not using photo simulations.
I hope elected officials and officials in the Office of Energy Independence understand that the expedited wind sprawl law needs to be revised.
Alice McKay Barnett, Carthage
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/letters/2012/04/16/barnett-questions-without-answers/1179679
I’m reading this Wednesday afternoon … The meeting is Wednesday evening. Are you serious? Part of the expedited process (of environmental disaster)?
If these developers like to defile Maine’s remote areas, shouldn’t they start in their own state? Why do they not propose a turbine mall in the Emerald Necklace area of Boston? Quincy recently proposed to end their ban on clotheslines. They sure are green down there.