Re[2]: [at-l] RE: Windmills

[Bob Cummings <ellen@clinic.net> (Bob Cummings)]

"...Is this thing open to public comment?"

 The wind power project has been pending for several years, but fell apart two
or three years ago because of financial and technical squabbles. Second hand
reports say the developer, Endless Energy, won a lawsuit from one of its
partners or contractors and got enough money to finance a new application.

 In any case Endless Energy has been making the rounds of Maine environmental
 groups seeking endorsements, unfortunately with quite a bit of success. Endless
 Energy now says it will file it's formal application in February with the Maine
 Land Use Regulatory Commission, LURC.

 The key player is the Natural Resources Council of Maine, the state's largest
and most influential environmental group and the only group with the resources
to fight such a major project. However, Pete Didisheim, the group's advocacy
director is leaning strongly towards support of the wind power projects. He
thinks the impact on the trail will be minimal and that environmental groups
need to support renewable energy sources.

Letters to him, especially from those who can visualize the impact of such a
complex close to the trail, might be useful. His address is 3 Wade Street,
Augusta Maine 04330. I would send a copy to his boss, Brownie Carson, same
address, also.

The environmental group won't be making a formal decision on the project for
another couple of weeks anyway, possibly not until January 2002. Letters should
stress the unique qualities of Saddleback, its open ridge line with its
unobstructed views all the way to Canada, and the damage it would do to a
National Scenic Trail.

The impact on the AT will be truly devastating.

Other than to impress on the Council the special values at stake here, there is
not much anyone can do until the application is filed. Then letters to the
regulatory body might be helpful.

These blades, with a radius of 130 feet will reach  390 feet above the ridge
lines of the first range of mountains north of the Appalachian Trail, which
meanders west to east in this area. The wind power complex will be as close as
3/4 of mile from the summit of Crocker Mountain and about 3 miles from the open
Saddleback ridge line.

Weary