Windpower MAINE DEP

Comment

Comment by Dan McKay on November 18, 2015 at 3:08pm

If SunEdison collapses and has no workforce left to administer decommissioning, who does the task of dismantling ?  Good time, with salvage value of metals now very low,  for a DEP review and demand for adequate funding on their projects.

  

Comment by Eric A. Tuttle on November 18, 2015 at 11:42am

They are suppose to have sufficient funds to completely demolish and restore to 2 feet above grade set in escrow before the project is started for the sole purpose of a decommissioning event. Which one presumes that they met that obligation, however with the weasel factor there probably only sits sufficient funds to do one turbine at a time, though Maine should they walk away or go bust, is suppose to have to do that job. Still this is money tied up, as a portion of their debt. Debt that can not be evaded such as gifts to towns under Benefit Determinations or FMM or worthless common share stocks that get last pickings of a carcass.  These rules need to be reviewed by the DEP and the Maine Legislature on that issue to ensure FULL FUNDS are made available for such instances.

With the proposed Mining Rules changes, only $50,000,000 was deemed sufficient for a catastrophic failure, when in fact it has been determined that such events approach nearly 1000x that cost for remediations. $50B

Comment by Kathy Sherman on November 18, 2015 at 9:23am

I do hope that Maine revisits the issue of First Wind financing, and that Massachusetts DPU that approved the long-term contracts for Oakfield and Bingham would also. However, they have lucrative contracts plus the PTC so there is little hope that they won't operate for at least 10 years. The projects or First Wind might be sold off to satisfy SunEd investors. New projects might have a tougher time getting financing, but the closure of the nuclear power plant in Plymouth MA just ups the pressure regarding "low carbon" generation and no one seems willing to acknowledge that variable output from Maine wind energy does not replace the baseload that they have legislated out. Sorry to say.

Comment by Eric A. Tuttle on November 18, 2015 at 8:31am

Once decommissioned, at least on the Bingham Project, the people were told they were to be removed within the year should they no longer to be kept running or otherwise replaced. A replacement would be given a longer period, however as we know stalling tactics could extend that. 

Comment by Dan McKay on November 18, 2015 at 7:39am

Surely the DEP is preparing a statement concerning SunEdison's rapidly deteriorating company structure with a  description explaining decommissioning efforts for the many turbines SunEdison would lose interest in maintaining if the company collapses.

Comment by Eric A. Tuttle on November 17, 2015 at 8:00pm

Thanks K.......... I know they are always being updated. (with tweaks) 

Comment by K Campbell on November 17, 2015 at 7:47pm

These documents are really key to figuring out of your area, if targeted for wind development has any SRSNS --- Scenic Resources of State or National Significance ---- as defined by the Wind Law. They have to be designated in certain ways and among them to be listed in the documents and studies. Great idea to re-post....