Wind farm plans brewing in Aroostook County (800 MW, Maine)

[jpak]

http://bangornews.com/news/t/aroostook.aspx?articleid=162583&zoneid=175

A Texas company is courting Aroostook County landowners as it moves forward with plans for several large wind farms that could transform the landscape in some areas of northern Maine.

Horizon Wind Energy’s long-term plan envisions up to 400 turbines spinning in the farm fields and forests of Aroostook County.

Company officials say they are focusing on a forested area west of Bridgewater. But Horizon officials are keeping mum on additional locations, adding only that most are agricultural or forested sites in eastern Aroostook County.

<snip>

But if Horizon officials’ vision comes to fruition, the suite of wind farms could produce up to 800 megawatts of pollution-free energy when operating at full capacity. The state of Maine uses 2,200 megawatts of power at peak demand in summer months.

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[luckyleftyme2]

1. BRING IT ON

We need cheap efficient and planet friendly energy; this is only one new method of providing it. and remember every effort to wean off of fossil fuel will create new jobs. and boy do we need jobs in MAINE!
AND this will take up less acreage than the niki sites,loring,presque isle(afb) and create a helluva lot less pollution than these did. man did we ruin a lot of potato fields in the 50's -70's. they'll never produce again (thousands of acres)
here's a scenario of the money trail new business brings in. the mars hill wind farm const. crew stopped in the topsham irving quite often to fuel up,get doughnuts at the 3 and one store and give us a progress report. some of the workers came from this area.
remember their not putting dams in with no fish ways!

[jpak]

2. For landowners, each turbine would be worth about $4000 in annual income

The town of Mars Hill gets $500,000 a year in property taxes from the wind farm there .

(note to fools: Mars Hill is a wicked small town - pop. = 1480 - and half-a-mill is a lot of cash for a town that size)

Their property taxes went DOWN last year.

I always thought Loring would be a great place for a big PV farm...

:hi:

[wordpix]

3. sounds good to me! Hope this happens and soon

:hi: