Wind power fans controversy (Maine)

[jpak]

http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/news/local/2957863.shtml

High atop some of the tallest mountains in Maine, a wind farm proposal has set the stage for a clash of environmental values that could define the future of wind power in Maine.

The Redington Wind Farm's 30 turbines would generate electricity without greenhouse gases and offer Maine people a stable source of affordable energy for decades while lessening dependence on polluting fossil fuels.

But environmental groups worry it would also push development into pristine subalpine habitat that is home to several rare or threatened species and erect a chain of lighted windmills 41 stories high within about a mile of the Appalachian Trail.

Behind the controversy created by this project -- the plan will be debated at a Land Use Regulation Commission public hearing in August -- however, is the much larger story of wind power in Maine.

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[RufusEarl]

1. I'm a green at heart!

but some common sense has to come into play somewhere! I'm no authority on wind energy, but wouldn't it be a better alternative the using coal, natural gas, nuclear, or any other fossil fuel energy?

Me thinks the environmental groups need to rethink their argument, this is an option that's i'm prepared to accept.

[sandnsea]

2. There's a bunch more

This is just one particular location that doesn't look to be the best choice. There does seem that there would be many places in Maine to place wind farms without having them in or near wilderness areas like the Appalachian Trail. I don't know why they keep choosing these unique places when there are so many options available, it seems like an intentional sabatoge sometimes.

[Lerkfish]

4. I was sort of wondering the same thing

see my other post. I am wondering if this is not a convenient way for oil companies to get environmentalists to fight non-petroleum energy sources

[RufusEarl]

5. Well location is everything,

and i'm sure it's even more so with wind driven fan's. From what i can tell, the fan energy people require locations with plenty of constant wind flow.

But i agree they need to locate area's with plenty of wind, that doesn't upset the natural flow of scenic vistas.

[Lerkfish]

3. it also has a much more compact footprint

compare the real estate for wind turbines vs. strip mining for coal.
I think we need to start supporting wind and solar and wave power NOW and figure out how to make them better environmentally later, because they are vastly better ecologically than the alternative.
My fear is well-intentioned ecology proponents might hamstring real progress in energy, or that oil companies can misuse these people for their own gain in blocking any non-petroleum energy source.

[jpak]

6. I've gone back and forth on this one

I have camped, hiked and fished that part of the AT for decades. It's one of my favorite places on the planet.

There will be a scenic impact on the trail. The AMC has no choice but to fight it - that's their job - to protect the trail.

Maine Audubon doesn't have much wiggle room either - protecting rare bird habitat is their job.

These subalpine habitats and the species that inhabit them, however, are doomed. Global warming will most certainly eliminate them.

The latest projections suggest that Maine's future climate will resemble present day Georgia and North Carolina.

Unlike present day Maine, 4000 foot mountains along the Georgia portion of the AT are host to mature hardwood forests - not subalpine habitat.

Slowing and reversing the rise greenhouse gas emissions would be a greater benefit to the Reddington mountain ecosystem than not developing it for wind power (IMHO).

So all things considered, I'm reluctantly for this project (and the others as well).

Maine currently generates half of its electricity from renewable sources (1050 MW). With the addition of 850 MW of new wind turbine capacity (plus another 100-200 MW proposed on Passamaqoddy land Down East) and 200-300 MW of tidal power, Maine should be able to generate nearly all its electricity from renewable sources by 2015 or so.

As Maine Goes...etc...

[XemaSab]

7. Many of those northeastern ridgelines

are raptor migration corridors.