Wind backers decry conflict-of-interest claims.mht
January 31, 2010
PORTLAND PRESS HERALD
— By TUX TURKEL
Staff Writer
As Maine rushes to embrace wind power, unnamed critics posting on Internet sites and reader comment pages contend that money and political connections -- reaching all the way to the governor's office -- are…
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Added by Mountain Maiden on January 31, 2010 at 6:25pm —
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Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s moral, or ethical
Jan. 31, 2010
By Lynne Williams
Tux Turkel’s piece in Sunday’s Portland Press Herald (January 31, 2010) was only a keyhole look at the influential connections between industrial wind industry executives and functionaries and Maine’s power elite. The defensive responses of those with such connections, that their behavior is legal and appropriate, is not unexpected. However, legality does not equate to moral or…
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Added by Steve Thurston on January 31, 2010 at 5:42pm —
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Patriots Renewables has sent and the DEP has received their application for Woodstock. So far as I can tell, the DEP has not designated it as complete for processing. Once it is designated as complete, people will have 20 days to request a public hearing according to rules. The date of designation as complete fror processing will appear on the DEP website under Spruce Mountain Wind Development. The application documents from Patriots is currently on the DEP site.
Added by Dan McKay on January 31, 2010 at 1:33pm —
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Welcome. You're likely wondering: "How in the world could anybody be
against wind power??"
Before you conclude that we are a bunch of whiners who don't want sleep-depriving 40-story towers in our back yards (that's generally true), please poke around this site. Lest you think we are a clique of conspiracy theorists (some of us do smell a pretty big rat but rats don't stick around forever the way abandoned wind turbines will) please read the sensible information found here. Click on…
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Added by Art Brigades on January 31, 2010 at 9:30am —
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Please read, politicians!
ThorEau of Brunswick, ME
Jan 30, 2010 9:46 AM
"Why should we depend on nations that fund terrorists who want to kill us?" said Baldacci, referring to the state's high reliance on imported oil".
Baldacci is both a liar and a cretin. (and self serving cretin at that)
First off, he has stated publicly that when he gets out of office in 11 months he plans to work in the area of energy. Of course one little detail is the man knows…
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Added by arthur qwenk on January 30, 2010 at 11:31am —
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Was anybody listening??? The Utilities Committee was presented a golden opportunity on January 28. There was a bill before them that dealt with wind power permitting. It was a simple bill that made LURC and DEP proceedings more alike.
Some smart legislators, led by Representative Tom Saviello, attended the public hearing and submitted an amendment to the bill. The amendment proposed two urgent things for Maine citizens:
1. All wind projects need to get a public hearing.…
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Added by Art Brigades on January 29, 2010 at 11:30pm —
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Eastbrook reviews wind power options
By Bill Trotter
BDN Staff
EASTBROOK, Maine — A handful of local municipal officials and a few residents got an advance look Tuesday night at what kind of effect a large-scale wind farm might have on their town, which has fewer than 400 year-round residents.
One scenario floated at the meeting, which included attorneys and planners representing the town and the firm that hopes to erect the turbines on Bull Hill, included…
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Added by arthur qwenk on January 29, 2010 at 10:18pm —
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PATRIOT RENEWABLE ENERGIES says they are here to answer questions that you may have about their project.
Are they going to tell you that you won't hear them, are they going to tell you it won't affect your sleep due to a constant noise, are they going to tell you that it won't have an impact on erosion, are they going to tell you that it won't affect anyone with a current illness are they HONESTLY going to tell you the truth to any of those questions. I THINK NOT!!!!
WE will get…
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Added by janice joy glover on January 29, 2010 at 12:31pm —
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Was enough consideration given to the people of Maine on what the true impacts of wind power would do to
small communities ? I wonder what kind of response Governor Baldacci would have. What were the considerations? Fore just recently the Governor made a statement that would yet again have an enormous
inpact on ALL citizens of Oxford county. The proposal was to fly LOW level military flight and maneuvers
over Oxford County. Well we can't get too shook up at this moment, the…
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Added by janice joy glover on January 29, 2010 at 11:47am —
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Has anyone ever asked these wind-power proponents (industry reps) how many of them use wind-power as their source of electricity? Seems to me that if I was privy to the equipment and knowledge of set-up and operation, AND I thought it was an economical way to provide my power, I'd put one or two (residential size) up in my yard for my personal use. Personally, I am much more likely to believe someone who not only talks the talk, but walks the walk....
Added by Stacey Scotia on January 26, 2010 at 12:45pm —
2 Comments
One item that caught my attention within the Dixmont wind ordinance relates to "scenic or special resource" In addition to addressing scenic resources of state and national significance, it includes areas of local significance as identified in their comprehensive plan. The intent here is to prohibit development ( i.e. wind farms) from these areas. The ordinance also states setback distances to these areas.
One option a town has power to implement is to adopt stricter rules in regards to…
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Added by Dan McKay on January 25, 2010 at 8:43am —
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Due out in April. Looks like a potentially interesting read. It sure does feel at times that after the dotcom bubble and the housing bubble, there is currently a green jobs bubble inflating.
Power Hungry: The Myths of "Green" Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future (Hardcover)
~ Robert Bryce (Author)
Product Description
The promise of “green jobs” and a “clean energy future” has roused the masses. But as Robert Bryce makes clear in this provocative book,…
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Added by Long Islander on January 25, 2010 at 6:15am —
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dan mckay
to rvwec
show details 4:08 PM (13 hours ago)
Freemont and I just got back from Dr. Aniel's place where we had a 2 hour discussion. I had my reservations concerning the upcoming wind debate in Dixfield. It looks like the Doctor is going to be substantially outnumbered by the opposition and I wondered if he was up to the task. I can assure you he is prepared and I am certain this will be a big win for us. Our support by attending is important. I will be…
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Added by Dan McKay on January 24, 2010 at 9:08am —
2 Comments
Having reviewed the Dixmont Wind Ordinance, I am particularly curious with their decommissioning and site restoration plan:
(1) The plan shall provide for the removal from the Project Parcels, and lawful disposal or disposition of, all Wind Turbines and other structures, hazardous materials, electrical facilities, and all foundations. The plan shall provide for the removal of all access roads. The plan shall provide for the restoration of the Project Parcels to a condition similar to that…
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Added by Dan McKay on January 23, 2010 at 8:21pm —
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From NBC's Ali Weinberg
Even as major climate change legislation moves through Congress, fewer voters believe global warming is a very serious problem -- or even think there is solid evidence of it -- a new Pew Research survey finds. And action on the environment has slipped even further down voters' lists of policy priorities for the president, although a majority would not oppose regulations limiting carbon emissions.
According to the poll, 35% of respondents said global…
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Added by Dan McKay on January 23, 2010 at 11:36am —
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Panelist Debaters
Representing perspectives community and economic development impacts of industrial wind development:
Dillon Voorhees, NRCM (invited)
Sen. Peter Mills
Representing perspectives on health impacts:
Dr. Albert Aniel
Dr. Richard Jennings
Experts
Peter Guldberg, sound engineer
Jim Cassida, DEP
Brian Hodges, DECD
*These folks apparently will be sitting separately as resources to ask for factual clarification,…
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Added by Stacey Scotia on January 22, 2010 at 11:58am —
4 Comments
Many talk about loving "green" energy. But when it comes to paying for it, they don't necessarily walk the walk. In Massachusetts, which likes to boast that it is one of the "greenest" states in the nation, less than 1% of people are willing to pay more for "green" energy. This was in the Boston Globe on January 20 and comes from the CEO of one of Massachusetts' largest utilities, NStar. Please see:…
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Added by Whetstone_Willy on January 22, 2010 at 11:00am —
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The following is excerpted from a citizen's testimony given on 11/24/08 at the PUC Public Witness Hearing in Lewiston regarding the so called Maine Power Reliability Program Consisting of the Construction of Approximately 350 Miles of 34.5 kV and 115 kV Transmission Lines (MPRP). I found it quite invigorating to read. It sure sounds familiar.
I'm part of an organization called Clark Mountain Sanctuary which is a conservation organization that's an abutter to the power line…
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Added by Long Islander on January 21, 2010 at 5:30pm —
18 Comments
Maine cedes the Northeast to First Wind
New State to Be Known as Firstwindiana
March 15, 2010 Augusta, Maine. Maine Governor Baldacci signed a historic measure today ceding a huge portion of northeastern Maine to First Wind Holdings. The law, passed as "Emergency" Legislation by the Maine 124th Legislature, creates the new state of Firstwindiana and cements Baldacci's legacy as one of the biggest buffoons to ever occupy the Blaine Mansion.
"This historic bill…
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Added by Brad Blake on January 20, 2010 at 11:22pm —
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If your town is preparing to bring in an acoustic engineer to discuss wind turbine noise. There are two that have previously made such presentations:
Ken Kaliski of Vermont. Pro- wind, spoke in Oakfield
Robert Rand of Brunswick, our favored man, spoke in Dixmont
Added by Dan McKay on January 18, 2010 at 9:54am —
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