Endless Energy’s effort to put a wind farm on top of Redington Mountain near Carrabassett Valley is a bad idea that won’t die the death it sorely needs. In fact, the idea seems to get worse all the time. Knocked down four times, twice by the Land Use Regulation Commission, once by the Governor’s Wind Power Task Force, and once by the legislature in its 2008 Wind Power bill, this commercial creature is still on its feet however barely. Promoter Harley Lee’s new strategy is to make an end run around LURC by asking the legislature to allow the town of Carrabassett Valley to annex the necessary land. He has been busy in the meantime meeting with residents there offering the financial enticements he hopes will sway them if the legislature grants his wish.
Mr. Lee has been going hard at this project for 15 years with little to show. His initial proposal for 30 turbines tanked because LURC realized there was no way to accommodate a wind farm site and still be within its statutory mission of promoting rational, harmonious development in Maine’s mountains. The public saw this too, which is why public opinion and the collective energy of all of Maine’s conservation groups, including Maine Audubon and our chapter, Western Maine Audubon, worked to defeat his proposal. And it was rejected by the commissioners almost unanimously. Even the governor’s Wind Power Task Force, empowered to expedite wind development, struck Redington Township from its list as unsuitable for development. In all of these decisions the State has made clear its position that Redington and Black Nubble are places of high natural value – ecological, scenic, and recreational value–that should be protected from development. This should have been the last word but now Lee sees a bit of day light in taking this decision to the people of Carrabassett valley and out of state hands.
Redington township is part of the state’s vast 10 million acres – fully half of the entire state – that is considered unorganized, outside town government. In 1971 LURC was set up by the legislature to oversee development in these areas. This was to assure thoughtful, planned development rather than the inevitable degradation of landscape and character that comes with sprawl. This same sprawl was identified by the recent Brookings report as the biggest threat to Maine’s long term economic growth, since Maine’s scenic landscape is the very engine of its economic vitality. LURC’s charge is to assure that development is “harmonious,” appropriate, and consistent with the “underlying natural and ecological values” of the lands in question. It was in the letter and spirit of LURC’s guiding statutes that Redington and Black Nubble, high mountain areas with fragile soils, threatened species, and special scenic value were deemed off limits, and the Wind Power Task force agreed.
LD 741, innocuously titled “An Act to Authorize the Annexation of a Portion of Redington Township in Franklin County to the Town of Carrabassett Valley” and co-sponsored by Senator Walter Gooley (R-Farmington) and Wright Pinkham (R-Lexington), is the bill that seeks to permit Redington’s annexation. While Lee’s wind farm is not anywhere mentioned in the bill, this is what it is all about. Maine Audubon Society and Western Maine Audubon are joining those who are speaking out against this bill and I hope you will too. If Endless Energy can coax the legislature to ignore existing law and the results of hearings where can this end for a state whose environment is so central to its present, past, and future? Nothing about the project has been changed. The fragile soils, the disturbed ecosystem, likely impacts on a major migratory bird route, and the proximity to the Appalachian Trail all remain. The only change is the political sleight of hand.
While specifically intended to allow a Redington wind farm, this move if allowed, would cast a shadow across all the wild lands of the state since it would set the precedent for their reclassification by developers who manage to lobby hard enough. Readers can contact the legislature’s State and Local Government Committee (http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/jt_com/slg.htm) to express their opinions about LD741. The bill will eventually go out of committee to the legislature and letting your local legislators know your views will also be very important. Finally there will be public hearings in April or May and these will be opportunities for you to comment directly. The innocuous sounding bill is very important to defeat.
Steve Bien is on the board of Western Maine Audubon.
Put the Wind Farm up!! The people who grew up here want it
Not true Chris.
True Seamus, put it up. Why will it distract your view attop Sugarloaf? Where only the wealthy can ski?
And I thought being persistent was an American trait.
I applaud Harley Lee for his persistence. It amazes me that some people want LURC to be able to control the unorganized territories. To further what Chris said. Most people who have jobs that depend on the economy of this area want the wind farm.
Visual pollution is the least of our worries. I sugeest Mr Bien read “Hot Flat and Crowded”
Ok. There’s the economy which is tanked temporarily (let’s hope). I understand that some good construction jobs will be had during the project. Most of these will be gone when the windmills are up and running. What are there 12 guys going to run Kibby when its all done? Is that going to energize the local economy? And
I know that’s something for the area, but it just ain’t enough (in my humble opinion) versus the environmental impact. And impact it will, which is why LURC nixed the deal. Twice.
As for Harley Lee, and I do give him credit for persistence, Enough already. This end run around two government decisions that were thoroughly argued is like carpetbagging. Give him a black cowboy hat and he’s the railroad owner duping the citizens of Rock Ridge to run the Sioux off mining land. Applaud J.D. Rockefeller. So I’m not funny.
Also, take it easy man. I don’t ski, I hunt. So how’s this: Skiers support this deal because Sugarloaf (aka Carrabassett Valley) stands to benefit . Those are your most people. Which is another reason this deal smells. It would give financial benefit to those who don’t even see the windmills. Listen. I know its mostly a NIMBY argument, but that’s also an American trait. And another thing. Why do only rich guys get to skate around LURC decisions? Read Al Diamond.
Most of the peope who are against this are the wealthy from Kingfield and Carrabasset, most are the same who didnt want Poland Spring either.
Seamus, Forget the jobs. Do you want to keep sending money to the Petrodictators in the Middle East.?
As for environmental impact, Visual polution is in the eye of the beholder. Jobs are not the only thing good for the economy, cheap electricity is too.
Carrabassett is not the only are to benefit from this.
In 50 years if we do not need them anymore, we can take them down and trees will grow back.
How about tearing up the Appalachian trail and getting the paint of all those trees and rocks while we are at it?
Bruce:
This wind farm would do nothing to mitigate fossil fuel consumption, be it from the Middle East or Sarah Palin-Land. This whole wind farm scam is a terribly destructive boondoggle that will take our tax dollars big time and may provide a mere pittance of electricity (when the wind blows). No matter what, you are never going to see it happen, as it’s proximity to a unit of the National Park Service will be the next impediment in a long potential string. It likely would be in court for decades if Harley Lee lasts that long. So far it looks like he will never go away, just like the proverbial tick on the moose’s butt! (Thank you, Al)
Never say never Jim
You say
“This wind farm would do nothing to mitigate fossil fuel consumption”
Nothing? What’s your plan?
Are you an alpine skier or lift riding telemarker.?
I ask, because if you are either. I would expect you to boycott the next lift that would go on Sugarloaf or Saddleback.
As for being “terribly destructive” I disagree. If and when the time comes that we don’t need wind farms, they can be removed just like dams have been and they won’t leave behind green house gas destruction.
Visual pollution is the least of my worries.
Next time you use a cell phone, just think of the hundreds of towers dotting the Maine landscape now with their lights flashing at night.