|
MAINE MOUNTAIN POWER PROPOSES SCALED-BACK WIND FARM ON BLACK NUBBLE MOUNTAIN
May 9, 2007
FARMINGTON – Maine Mountain Power (MMP) announced today that it will ask the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) to consider a scaled-back, one-mountain wind farm project instead of the two-mountain Redington Mountain Wind Farm proposed last year. The new proposal seeks to develop only Black Nubble Mountain and would restrict development on Redington Mountain, which would ease environmental and aesthetic concerns.
“We believe this reduced project will still provide many important environmental, economic, and energy security benefits to Maine,” said Dennis Bailey, spokesperson for MMP. “At the same time, our proposal will restrict development on Redington and mitigate many of the concerns raised by the Commissioners and opponents to the original project.”
In January, the Commission rejected the staff recommendation to approve a zoning change and preliminary permit application that would have allowed MMP to move forward on its plan to construct a 30-turbine wind farm on Redington Pond Range and Black Nubble mountains near Rangeley. In light of the Commission’s decision, MMP is requesting that LURC reopen the hearing record to allow MMP to submit the modified one-mountain proposal and describe how the Black Nubble project would satisfy LURC permitting and rezoning criteria. At the discretion of the Commission, the parties and the public would have an opportunity to comment on the revised proposal.
In contrast to the original proposal, the Black Nubble project would be considerably smaller with 18 turbines on just one mountain, rather than two. The project would essentially remain the same, except that the Redington turbines and all project elements associated with Redington would be subtracted from the application, including Redington access and summit roads, power lines, and a collection system.
Further, the Black Nubble-only project would place turbines at a greater distance from the Appalachian Trail than the two-mountain proposal, a key factor in the original opposition. It would also require less clearing and would be less disturbing to high elevation habitats.
“Finding new, clean sources of energy is important to Maine and the nation, which is why we are offering this compromise,” said Bailey. “This project now places turbines several miles from the Appalachian Trail and significantly reduces the potential scenic and environmental impact of the project, two of the most often voiced concerns of the original project.”
Contact: Dennis Bailey, 207-347-6077
|
