You're probably aware that Maine's wind law created a large area that is "pre-zoned" as suitable for wind development. This means a wind developer can apply for a permit to build a project in that area without having to have the site re-zoned (the way every other industry would have to). The area is known as the expedited wind permitting area (EWPA). It was the wind developers themselves who decided what townships, etc. would become "expedited" (see proof…

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http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/maine-court-interprets-wind-energy-law-87042/

Maine court interprets wind energy law

Maine's highest court has issued an opinion interpreting Maine's laws governing wind energy project development. The opinion is noteworthy for its analysis of two areas of Maine wind energy law -- those designed to expedite the…

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This morning the Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued its decision denying Champlain Wind LLC's appeal concerning a permit for its Bowers Wind Project in Carroll Plt and Kossuth Twp. Champlain Wind is a subsidiary of Maine's largest wind developer, First Wind. The decision marks the end of a six year process of hearings and appeals which pitted the wind developer against local residents, professional guides, traditional sporting camp owners and loyal visitors to Maine's famed Downeast Lakes…

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On Wednesday, April 8th at 2:10pm the Maine Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Champlain Wind LLC's appeal of the DEP/BEP denial of a permit for the Bowers Mountain Wind project. This will be the end of the line for this Bowers application. Champlain will not be able to appeal this any further. Here's how the Court has characterized the case:

2:10 p.m.     BEP-14-291    

Champlain Wind LLC v. Board of Environmental Protection  

Attorneys:…

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The State Supreme Court has decided it wants to hear oral arguments before ruling on Champlain Wind's (First Wind's) appeal of the Bowers project denial.

Appellant Champlain, Appellee DEP/BEP, PPDLW and the Conservation Law Foundation will each be allowed a few minutes to present. Each presentation will be followed by questions from the Justices. There will not be an…

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George Smith, outdoor writer and former Director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine (SAM), recently lost his father. My sincere condolences to the family.

On 10/31 he devoted his BDN column to remembering some of the great hunting trips he and his father shared. He closed with an insight that I think many of us share:



    "We didn’t have firearms that day,

     and didn’t kill anything,

     but that’s the smallest part of hunting..."



As I read that my…

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Posted: May 1, 2014

Updated: Today at 12:45 AM 

Maine board sets stage for rejection of $100 million wind project

The Bowers Wind Project would have an adverse impact on Downeast’s scenic lakes and the people who use them, members say.

By …

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Anybody see this Tweet from FMM just a few minutes ago? "Well-deserved kick in the teeth today (http://bit.ly/1ko37sH) for First Wind. BEP upholds DEP denial at…

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This afternoon DEP Commissioner Patricia Aho signed the final denial document for First Wind's planned Bowers Mountain Wind Project in Carroll Plt and Kossuth Twp.

I have not read the entire decision document but at a glance it appears very similar to the draft that was circulated last week.  Of course First Wind has the right to appeal to BEP and…

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This afternoon DEP released the draft of its decision on First Wind's Bowers Mountain Wind Project. The Department concluded that "The proposed activity would significantly compromise views from a SRSNS and would have an unreasonable adverse effect on the scenic character and existing uses related to scenic character of the resource."

The decision specifically states that even if the radar-activated lighting were to be retrofitted to the project, it would still have an unreasonable…

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HELP! They're at it again. First Wind (Champlain Wind LLC) is about to apply for the permit to put 25 turbines on Bowers Mtn and Dill Hill Ridge. That's about 20 miles east of Lincoln and just south of their Stetson industrial wind facilities (DeLorme map 45, 1E). Although some of the project will be in Carroll Plt, which is in the Expedited Zone, the other part is in southern Kossuth Plt which is NOT in the Expedited Zone. All of… Continue

As a seasonal resident of the Grand Lakes region, I obviously have an interest in the impact of these wind power projects on my general enjoyment, but I'll also concede that my interest doesn't trump those of year round residents. The cost/benefits of each project and the Maine wind power movement as a whole needs to factor in the economic impact on Maine residents in the areas of jobs, electricity costs, taxes, etc. These are significant factors and have been documented to some degree,… Continue