Moosehead Lake wind project good for region
I understand the concern of residents about a wind farm being developed by EverPower in the Moosehead Lake region, and I want to assure them that their voices are being heard, and ask them to consider a few things.
The Northwest Wind Farm project, known locally as Big Indian Pond, is in the very early stages of development.
EverPower always holds the environment in highest regard and works hard to protect natural resources, including scenic resources. Just like the locals, we feel that it is of the utmost importance that a resource as precious as the Moosehead Lake landscape be preserved, so our project design is focused on minimizing turbine visibility from Moosehead Lake. Likewise, visibility from Greenville, Blair House and Moxie Pond will be minimal.
We, and our team of leading consultants, work in accordance with strict permitting requirements set by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Maine Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure we minimize the impacts of the project, but community input and benefit is equally important to us. Once built, the project will bring the community six to eight full-time jobs and $10 million in tax revenue for local governments and school districts over the next 20 years.
We want to build a partnership with the community, so we will provide ample opportunity for residents to get involved through public open houses and other forums.
Harry Benson
Project manager
EverPower Maine LLC
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mainers need to take action
As a faithful reader of the BDN’s letters to the editor, I’m glad to see people getting involved and expressing their opinions on a range of topics, such as gun control, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and ranked-choice voting, just to mention a few.
These writers, whether they realize it or not, are stepping up and taking action. I don’t necessarily agree with everything they say, but commend them for their action. Every reader of this page also is participating and developing opinions on the subjects. What this country needs are more people to step up and take action.
I came across a book on Amazon called “ Fed Up” that addresses just about every issue facing us today, with revealing information and facts on how we are being thrown under the bus by our elected officials and the government. This book exposes what our political leaders are doing and has the potential to change the outcome of the next election.
If we want things to change and get better, we all need to better educate ourselves on the issues and the workings of our government and get involved.
Charles Lanpher
Bradford
Expand Medicaid to treat addiction
With the surge in heroin deaths, Maine has seen a rush of concern for fighting the epidemic of addiction, but I feel that the governor has missed the point of the fight. If we’re going to win the fight against drugs, we need to treat addiction.
In my life and in my 30 years as a registered nurse, I have seen people struggle and fight against addiction. One of my friends who sought treatment for drug addiction had no health insurance, and after completing the drug treatment program, he spent 10 years paying off the debt that he owed to the rehab facility. In the hospital, I have seen lives taken far too early due to drug addiction.
We need to lift addicts up, not shame them. Giving them access to treatment is the cornerstone of that. Many of the people struggling with drug addiction fall into the coverage gap created by Gov. Paul LePage’s refusal to expand Medicaid to 70,000 additional Mainers.
In addition to being a bad moral example of how to lead the state, it’s bad economics. Having people wind up in emergency rooms, often repeatedly, and racking up bills they could never possibly pay while they’re struggling with addiction, puts that cost onto everyone else. Doing all of this when the Affordable Care Act offers to pay for people’s treatment is simply nonsensical.
Richard Bissell
Bangor