Maybe all of our groups should get together and put together a Citizens' Petition for a Satewide MORATORIUM on these Wind Turbine Developments. The procedure, etc. can be found at the following site -- http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/initpak.htm
Obviously it's too late for this coming ballot - but I'm sure that getting it started would make some news... Does it make sense? Who's interested?

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Lots of people are interested. North Carolina long ago banned structures above 4 stories on mountains above 3000 feet. (Maine's magic number is 2700). NC's Legislature is in a heated debate as we speak because Big Wind wants to repeal their "Ridge Law." The dichotomy is that the state, like Maine, dictates that X percent of power must be renewable, and they make policy to incentivize Wind Power. Yet they value their ridgelines enough to protect them. That's North Carolina, folks. I dare say Governor Baxter and Thoreau would be aghast at us for allowing this wholesale bastardization of Maine's trademark ridgelines and wildlands.
Maine can do something similar. Hell, we banned billboards, and those things contributed to the economy. There is a group that is researching a referendum campaign. If we are so hellbent on being the power plantation for the Northeast, let Habib Dagher put his millions in stimulus bucks to good use: figure out how to do it offshore. (Good luck selling those pricey kilowatts, BTW) My instinct tells me that if Maine voted on a ban today we would lose 88-12. We have work to do because so many think the emperor is fully clothed. Keep the buzz up about this. You're probably talking 2011. The developers are dashing to get their projects permitted and started by year-end because that qualifies them for huge federal givaways. Speaking of which, if you know any federal taxpayers, let them know they should join our cause.
Hi Stacey.

I think that sounds like an excellent idea, and frankly, I'm surprised we haven't already started the process. It may be too late for some of the proposed developments that are already slated for rural Maine, but while we are working on stopping those, we need to be looking at the big picture. The future of our homeland is at stake.

I do believe that educating the general public on the realities of Big Wind must go hand in hand with any initiative, however. Most Mainers simply have not had the time or taken the initiative to research this issue. We've been fed the line that 'wind is green, and green is good'. End of story. But it is NOT the real story, and we need to find way to bring the facts about this multi-faceted issue to our citizens.

Yup, Stacey... it surely makes sense! Thanks for caring.
Hi Karen,

"Educating the general public on the realities of Big Wind".......... This is exactly what we must do. Each of us has to find a way to reach out to the public and let our voices be heard. For most people, all they have heard is that Wind Power will reduce their electric bills. That's all they want to know.
I will be doing my thing at the Brunswick Town council meeting tomorrow night (the 25th) when I get up to speak about Big Wind facts. I have some data I will be passing out to the council. The press will be there so they might pay attention, too. Or not.
We can't afford to stay silent on such an important issue.
At least maybe I can get the ball rolling about a moratorium to have time to educate the public.
We have a base closing here and I am afraid that the council, lured by talk of jobs and tax dollars, are going to hear only from people like Angus King and the "pro-winders".

Karen Bessey Pease said:
Hi Stacey.

I think that sounds like an excellent idea, and frankly, I'm surprised we haven't already started the process. It may be too late for some of the proposed developments that are already slated for rural Maine, but while we are working on stopping those, we need to be looking at the big picture. The future of our homeland is at stake.

I do believe that educating the general public on the realities of Big Wind must go hand in hand with any initiative, however. Most Mainers simply have not had the time or taken the initiative to research this issue. We've been fed the line that 'wind is green, and green is good'. End of story. But it is NOT the real story, and we need to find way to bring the facts about this multi-faceted issue to our citizens.

Yup, Stacey... it surely makes sense! Thanks for caring.
Hi Joanne!
You are so right! And THANK YOU for taking the initiative and speaking to your town council! Education is paramount to winning this battle, but we small groups and indviduals have to work very hard to offset the publicity put out there by politicians and developers who have more money, resources and influence, and who only tell part of the story.

Unfortunately, developers come into towns and spin lovely tales of vastly reduced taxes and non-existent or very low electric bills, and the citizens can't help but be swayed! Times are very tough, and some of them are fighting for their very homes. It's only natural to take care of their families and livelihoods, first. But they aren't getting the whole story! They aren't told HOW LONG that industrial wind plant's property will retain its huge value, thereby making them the tax payer who pays the lion's share. They aren't told about depreciation and devaluation of the turbines and associated machinery, nor are they given any hint as to how quickly that value can be reduced to zero, putting them right back where they started, or worse. They are placated by the developers who tell them that 'impact studies' are being completed...that LURC is involved, and the ME IF&W, and the DEP. People think all the i's have been dotted and the t's crossed and they don't feel concerned enough to ask the hard questions. They don't demand to have those promises put in writing. I think perhaps it's because the 'carrot on a string' of reduced financial burdens is such an incredible relief, they don't dare rock the boat.

But I truly believe that if citizens learned the facts about 'Big Wind', they would offer a resounding 'No!' I believe if they truly thought about all the impacts of putting 300+ miles of industrial turbines in Maine they would not be so easily quieted. There are huge environmental costs, health problems, bird, bat and animal deaths. There is a loss of our culture and quality of life. Tourism will be affected, for how can it not be? People 'from away' flock here for our quiet and unspoiled wilderness. They come to escape the industrialization of the cities... and yet, what they are escaping will be HERE. And lets not forget one very important truth: Maine does not need this, and Mainers will not benefit from this 'green' power. Every bit of it will be shipped out of state. But it is OUR mountaintops and OUR natural resources that will be sacrificed to sate others' needs. And as far as 'green' goes... add the emissions created during the manufacturing of the machinery (paid to foreign countries overseas with OUR tax dollars) and the permanent deforestation of hundreds and thousands of acres of carbon neutralizing plants and trees, throw in herbicides to keep the transmission corridors and access roads clear, and these things are not nearly as 'green' as most people believe.

But the general public doesn't hear those parts of the equation, amd most don't take the time to research it for themselves. We are simply too busy and stressed to, and I've been as guilty as the next person of believing what those 'in the know' have told us.

But this is serious, and we need to slow down. We need our representatives and senators to step up to the plate and put a halt to the granting of any permits under LD#2283. We need to step back and not behave recklessly with our best and last resources-- our natural ones. The only 'hurry' is for subsidy dollars, and the only 'emergency' was the people of Maine. Those pushing for industrial wind developments did not want Mainers to be able to step in and put a stop to their projects, so we were removed from the equation. That's my 'take' on LD#2283. LURC and the people of Maine had a good portion of our power stripped under cover of darkness by the passage of this 'emergency' measure. I resent that, and I believe that as other Mainers become aware of the facts surrounding Big Wind, they will take issue with it, too.
I could not have said that any better. I have been spreading the word about "Big Wind" to anyone who will listen to me. I am so concerned about the Appalachian Trail & the Bigelow Preserve, 2 of my familys favorite places! There is no justifiable reason to put "Big Wind" so close to such a special place. The Bigelow Preserve was created by people like us, who wanted to protect it from development. These are rare, wonderful places & their should be no big developments in sight of them or any other place like them in Maine. I guess it is up to the People of Maine, once again, to protect Our State from development, as the people did for the Bigelow Preserve & so many people did in the past for other wonderful places in Maine. Governor Baxter & so many others like him, must be rolling in thier graves!

Karen Bessey Pease said:
Hi Joanne!
You are so right! And THANK YOU for taking the initiative and speaking to your town council! Education is paramount to winning this battle, but we small groups and indviduals have to work very hard to offset the publicity put out there by politicians and developers who have more money, resources and influence, and who only tell part of the story.

Unfortunately, developers come into towns and spin lovely tales of vastly reduced taxes and non-existent or very low electric bills, and the citizens can't help but be swayed! Times are very tough, and some of them are fighting for their very homes. It's only natural to take care of their families and livelihoods, first. But they aren't getting the whole story! They aren't told HOW LONG that industrial wind plant's property will retain its huge value, thereby making them the tax payer who pays the lion's share. They aren't told about depreciation and devaluation of the turbines and associated machinery, nor are they given any hint as to how quickly that value can be reduced to zero, putting them right back where they started, or worse. They are placated by the developers who tell them that 'impact studies' are being completed...that LURC is involved, and the ME IF&W, and the DEP. People think all the i's have been dotted and the t's crossed and they don't feel concerned enough to ask the hard questions. They don't demand to have those promises put in writing. I think perhaps it's because the 'carrot on a string' of reduced financial burdens is such an incredible relief, they don't dare rock the boat.

But I truly believe that if citizens learned the facts about 'Big Wind', they would offer a resounding 'No!' I believe if they truly thought about all the impacts of putting 300+ miles of industrial turbines in Maine they would not be so easily quieted. There are huge environmental costs, health problems, bird, bat and animal deaths. There is a loss of our culture and quality of life. Tourism will be affected, for how can it not be? People 'from away' flock here for our quiet and unspoiled wilderness. They come to escape the industrialization of the cities... and yet, what they are escaping will be HERE. And lets not forget one very important truth: Maine does not need this, and Mainers will not benefit from this 'green' power. Every bit of it will be shipped out of state. But it is OUR mountaintops and OUR natural resources that will be sacrificed to sate others' needs. And as far as 'green' goes... add the emissions created during the manufacturing of the machinery (paid to foreign countries overseas with OUR tax dollars) and the permanent deforestation of hundreds and thousands of acres of carbon neutralizing plants and trees, throw in herbicides to keep the transmission corridors and access roads clear, and these things are not nearly as 'green' as most people believe.

But the general public doesn't hear those parts of the equation, amd most don't take the time to research it for themselves. We are simply too busy and stressed to, and I've been as guilty as the next person of believing what those 'in the know' have told us.

But this is serious, and we need to slow down. We need our representatives and senators to step up to the plate and put a halt to the granting of any permits under LD#2283. We need to step back and not behave recklessly with our best and last resources-- our natural ones. The only 'hurry' is for subsidy dollars, and the only 'emergency' was the people of Maine. Those pushing for industrial wind developments did not want Mainers to be able to step in and put a stop to their projects, so we were removed from the equation. That's my 'take' on LD#2283. LURC and the people of Maine had a good portion of our power stripped under cover of darkness by the passage of this 'emergency' measure. I resent that, and I believe that as other Mainers become aware of the facts surrounding Big Wind, they will take issue with it, too.
Hey, Ridgerunner. Gorgeous photo... gives me a peaceful, easy feeling! :o)

Yep... spread the word. And please don't forget to contact every legislator in Augusta-- those men and women who are SUPPOSED to be looking out for the best interests of this state and her people. We have to raise a hue and cry, and we have to do it quickly. Those who oppose industrial wind in rural Maine must educate, not intimidate. With knowledge comes power. Perhaps we don't recognize it as such, because we are up against politicians and developers who have the ability to make things happen with the promise of jobs, or money, or advancement. But knowlegeable Mainers have more power than we think, and we have to recognize that power and put it to work. We must call our representatives and senators. Call the newspapers. Speak to our friends and families and give them access to articles and links and books. And lets not forget the good people from Vinalhaven, Mars Hill and Freedom. Those wonderful folks have been very willing to share their experiences in the hopes that other communities won't fall prey to the same false information and promises that they did.

We CAN stop this destruction of Maine's unspoiled wilderness. But we can't sit back and hope that others will do it for us. It will take an enormous effort on the part of many dedicated people. But, hey... this is America, and this is MAINE. How fortunate we are that our voices and our votes still count for something!

(I really do love that pic!)

And... I think I just replied to myself instead of Ridgerunner! Computers! Specifically designed to keep me humble!

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Maine as Third World Country:

CMP Transmission Rate Skyrockets 19.6% Due to Wind Power

 

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Maine Center For Public Interest Reporting – Three Part Series: A CRITICAL LOOK AT MAINE’S WIND ACT

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(excerpts) From Part 1 – On Maine’s Wind Law “Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine if the law’s goals were met." . – Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, August 2010 https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/From Part 2 – On Wind and Oil Yet using wind energy doesn’t lower dependence on imported foreign oil. That’s because the majority of imported oil in Maine is used for heating and transportation. And switching our dependence from foreign oil to Maine-produced electricity isn’t likely to happen very soon, says Bartlett. “Right now, people can’t switch to electric cars and heating – if they did, we’d be in trouble.” So was one of the fundamental premises of the task force false, or at least misleading?" https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/wind-swept-task-force-set-the-rules/From Part 3 – On Wind-Required New Transmission Lines Finally, the building of enormous, high-voltage transmission lines that the regional electricity system operator says are required to move substantial amounts of wind power to markets south of Maine was never even discussed by the task force – an omission that Mills said will come to haunt the state.“If you try to put 2,500 or 3,000 megawatts in northern or eastern Maine – oh, my god, try to build the transmission!” said Mills. “It’s not just the towers, it’s the lines – that’s when I begin to think that the goal is a little farfetched.” https://www.pinetreewatchdog.org/flaws-in-bill-like-skating-with-dull-skates/

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Hannah Pingree on the Maine expedited wind law

Hannah Pingree - Director of Maine's Office of Innovation and the Future

"Once the committee passed the wind energy bill on to the full House and Senate, lawmakers there didn’t even debate it. They passed it unanimously and with no discussion. House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, says legislators probably didn’t know how many turbines would be constructed in Maine."

https://pinetreewatch.org/wind-power-bandwagon-hits-bumps-in-the-road-3/

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