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LURC STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL
OF REDINGTON WIND FARM PROJECT
December 22, 2006
YARMOUTH, ME – The staff of the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) has recommended approval of a proposed wind farm project for Redington Pond Range and Black Nubble Mountains near the Sugarloaf ski resort.
The recommendation has been submitted to the full Commission, which will hold a special meeting to discuss and vote on the project on January 24, 2007 in Farmington..
Maine Mountain Power, the developer of the proposed 30 wind turbines, is seeking a permit from LURC for a zone change that would allow the wind farm to be constructed, and approval of its preliminary development plan. The staff recommendation of approval is contained in a lengthy, detailed analysis of the project, which found that the Redington Wind Farm conforms with the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and meets statutory requirements.
“This puts us on the 10 yard line after more than five years of moving the ball down the field,” said Randy Mann of Edison Mission Group, a subsidiary of Rosemead, California-based Edison International (NYSE: EIX), which with Endless Energy in Yarmouth formed Maine Mountain Power to develop the project. “The staff’s recommendation confirms that this project will produce clean, renewable energy without significantly impacting wildlife or the environment. It’s a positive step, and we hope the Commission will agree with the staff’s recommendation so we can begin construction early next year, following approval of our final design plan.”
The staff’s analysis noted that LURC received more than 200 letters in support of the project, as well as support from former Maine Governor Angus King and several legislators the president of Sugarloaf Ski Resort, and the Franklin Journal, Kennebec Journal, Lewiston Sun Journal, and Portland Press Herald. One letter of support from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard contained a petition with 40 signatures.
“We’ve designed a project that will prevent more than 730,000 pounds of pollution per day from existing power plants and produce enough power for 40,000 Maine homes, all with no emissions,” said Harley Lee of Endless Energy. “It will take advantage of the strong, steady winds in an area of Maine that is already well-developed as part of the state’s working forest. The power will be sold to Maine businesses and consumers, and we expect that all of it will actually be used in Maine.”
“This would be the first major wind project approved by LURC, but we know from our public opinion surveys that the vast majority of Maine people, including members of the major environmental groups, strongly favor this project,” Lee continued. “With energy prices skyrocketing and global warming becoming a greater threat to Maine’s environment each day, the time has come for developing more clean, renewable energy for Maine. We still need final LURC approvals before construction can begin, so still need supporters to speak out for our project.”
The $150 million project will provide about 100 jobs during its year-long construction and about 10 permanent jobs to the region.
“We are grateful to LURC staff for all their hard work in reviewing our project plan and all of the public testimony,” said Mann. “We are gratified that the staff recognized the merits of our project and the great care we took to develop a facility with no undue adverse effects. We look forward to the next phase of the process in January.”
For more information go to www.mainemountainpower.com
Contact: Dennis Bailey, 207-347-6077
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