Group Appeals Roxbury Wind Farm Permit

Sun Journal:

"The appellants want a public hearing held based on 'credible conflicting medical and technical information regarding the licensing criterion,' mainly on perceived noise to be generated by the turbines.

A hearing, they say, would help the DEP's Board of Environmental Protection understand the evidence.

The 58-page document was sent to BEP Chairman Susan Lessard, DEP Commissioner David Littel and Robert Gardiner of Record Hill Wind LLC, the company that is currently building a 22-turbine, 55-megawatt wind farm.

Board of Environmental Protection executive analyst Cindy Bertocci in Augusta acknowledged on Wednesday that she had started examining it."

Plum Creek Approved

Press Herald

"A sprawling resort and residential development at the gateway to Maine's North Woods won a state planning board's unanimous approval Wednesday.

Plum Creek Timber Co.'s proposal, which would be the largest of its kind in the state, received the go-ahead nearly five years after the Seattle-based company announced plans to build two resorts and more than 2,000 housing units near Moosehead Lake."

'Green' House

Portland Press Herald:

"The farmhouse-style house rising in an old field here will likely become the state's most energy-frugal home, its builders say, using 90 percent less fuel than a typical new home.

This structure is so airtight and heavily insulated, and so well oriented to the sun, that the builders are leaving out any real heating system. And thanks to solar panels on the roof, the owner won't pay anything for heat or hot water. Not ever.

But what makes this project even more noteworthy is that the three-bedroom, 1,500-square-foot house is expected to cost roughly $225,000, minus land. That's on par with typical custom-built homes in Maine. And costs could drop, the builders say, if the techniques being used here are adopted in mass production."

Wind farm approved near Rumford

The Portland Press Herald: "AUGUSTA -- Maine environmental regulators have given their final go-ahead to a 22-turbine wind farm near Rumford whose principals include former Gov. Angus King.

The $120 million windmill project is to be built on ridgelines of Partridge Peak, Flathead Mountain and Record Hill in Roxbury. It would become Maine's fourth major wind farm."

'Maine's windkeepers'

Boston.com:

"Maine's shipbuilding and seafaring renown have long been cultivated by Maine Maritime Academy. But the Castine school years ago diversified its programs to also prepare students who might seek work in land-based power plants.

'We saw many of our marine engineers coming ashore and transferring their skills to land-based power plants and industrial power projects,' said Janice Zenter, school spokeswoman. She sees that as a natural jump for those trained as mariners."

Conservation fishery program

Mainebiz:

"Three conservation organizations are launching a novel plan to work with the local fishing industry to support sustainable fishing practices in the state.

The Nature Conservancy, Island Institute and Penobscot East Resource Center have joined forces to purchase two groundfishing permits, which they will make available to fishermen doing research on more sustainable fishing practices, according to a press release. The organizations are covering the costs of the research, including the permits, fuel, fishermen's time and time for research supervision scientists. The practice is called permit banking and will allow the organizations to work with fishermen on collaborative research projects without asking them to use their valuable days at sea associated with each permit."

Kennebec Tidal Energy Project Dropped

Mainebiz:

"Maine Tidal Energy Co., which had proposed a tidal energy project in the Kennebec River near Bath, has dropped its proposal because of 'local hostility,' according to The Times Record.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted Maine Tidal a preliminary permit to study the area of the Kennebec between Bath and Woolwich for a potential 100-megawtt tidal energy project. However, Mike Hoover, general counsel for Washington, D.C.-based Oceana Energy Co., Maine Tidal's parent firm, said the company is surrendering its preliminary permit after finding that 'insufficient development potential exists for pursuit of either a full development or pilot project there,' according to a letter he sent to FERC dated May 31, 2009."

Wiscasset Tidal Project Progresses

Mainebiz:

"Federal regulators today have granted initial approval to a tidal power project proposed by the town of Wiscasset and the Chewonki Foundation.

The Federal Energy Regulation Commission has issued a preliminary permit to the town and the foundation to study using tidal currents in the Sheepscot River to generate electricity, according to a press release. The permit will allow town and Chewonki officials to collect data on how much electricity could be generated, data needed in order for the town and Chewonki to apply for a full license application. Wiscasset has three years to submit that application. If the project receives final approval, it would include four to 40 turbines and a 6-mile-long underwater transmission cable.

Wiscasset first applied for the permit last November, according to the release."

Kittery Windmill to be Removed

A windmill in Kittery will be taken down because it did not generate the expected power.

Portland Press Herald:

"The maker of a windmill in Kittery will refund the town nearly $200,000 and remove the turbine after a disappointing eight-month demonstration project, the town announced today.

The 50-kilowatt wind turbine on top of a hill at the Kittery Waste Transfer Station has been in operation since October, but generated less than 15 percent of the expected electricity, Town Manager Jon Carter said in a news release.

The turbine, manufactured by Entegrity Wind Systems of Boulder, Col., has a solid track record in the Great Plains, according to Carter. Its underperformance at the Kittery site was most likely due to ground clutter -- trees and buildings -- that caused significant wind turbulence, he said."

CMP v. GridSolar

A pro CMP op-ed (by their CEO), and a pro Gridsolar article:

"According to Central Maine Power’s projections, the state’s growing energy demands will soon exceed the company’s generating capacity at peak times. Unless the state comes up with a solution, that could mean grid failures and blackouts in Vacationland.

CMP’s solution is to spend $1.5 billion to build new high voltage transmission lines and update existing lines. But representatives from GridSolar think there’s a better way. The GridSolar project proposes to develop up to 800 megawatts of solar generation to meet the demands of peak load growth."

Wind Farm Permitted

Bangor Daily News:

"The Maine Department of Environmental Protection issued First Wind of Massachusetts a permit Tuesday to build a 40-turbine industrial wind site for $130 million on Rollins Mountain in Burlington, Lee, Lincoln and Winn.

“The Department finds that the applicant has demonstrated that the proposed project will provide significant tangible benefits to the host community and surrounding area,” according to the department’s 64-page report on the project, which was issued Tuesday.

Lincoln Town Council chairman Steve Clay hopes to see construction begin soon." .....

Tidal Power Testing

Bangor Daily News:

"EASTPORT, Maine — The U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday that it hopes to have a tidal power generator in the water by the end of summer to provide electricity to Station Eastport.

Sector Northern New England, in partnership with the Coast Guard Research and Development Center in New London, Conn., plans to test a tidal generator off Station East-port, the Coast Guard said on its Web site.

The Coast Guard made the announcement on Wednesday — Earth Day.

The Station Eastport facility is located on the breakwater in downtown Eastport.

“Once complete, the station would be the first federal facility in the continental U.S. to use tidal power,” the Coast Guard said.

The project carries a $100,000 price tag and could serve as a prototype for other Coast Guard facilities in Alaska and Washington." ....

Jetport Traffic Down 1%

WMTW Portland:

"The Portland International Jetport said the number of passengers in March dropped for a third consecutive month.

Greg Hughes, the airport's marketing director, said the number of passengers was 132,959, or a drop of 1 percent from a year ago.

But he said it was the airport's second-best March. And he said the airport fared better than a projected nationwide decline of 7.3 percent for the month."