Below is a Press Release from the Friends of Maine’s Mountains. It is time that everyone in Augusta understood that the People of Maine are NOT going away, and that we WILL NOT be silent when it comes to the harm being done to this State and its People by industrial wind.
Any Wind Warrior who wishes to stand up and be counted is welcome to come stand in that room tomorrow while FMM delivers its statement to the Press regarding LD1366. They will be calling on the 125th Legislature to do the right thing by passing Representative Dunphy’s Minority Report on LD1366, and finally enacting some wind related legislation that is good for the People of Maine.
Please be in the Welcome Center, First Floor of the State House, Augusta, ME, at 11 a.m. tomorrow, if you are able. And please contact your State Representatives and ask them to stand with Representative Dunphy in doing what is right for the People of Maine.
I’ll be there tomorrow—I hope you will be too.
DC
PRESS RELEASE—FRIENDS OF MAINE’S MOUNTAINS
Friends of Maine’s Mountains calls upon the 125th Legislature to pass Rep. Larry Dunphy’s ‘Minority Report’ version of LD 1366: “An Act to Update the Maine Wind Energy Act”
From: Friends of Maine’s Mountains, 284 Main St. Suite 200, Wilton, ME 04294
To: Press—for release June 3, 2011
Re: Press Conference, Welcome Center, First Floor of the State House, Augusta, ME, 11:30 a.m., June 3, 2011
Contact: Chris O’Neil, Gov’t. Affairs Director, 590-3842, cponeil22@gmail.com
In 2008, in a panic as oil prices skyrocketed, Governor Baldacci and Maine’s Legislature committed to a “wind energy plan.” Believing that adding large amounts of wind energy to our electricity mix would be a good thing for our economy, our environment, and our security, Maine launched a plan to install 2700MW (name-plate capacity) of industrial wind turbines across hundreds of miles of Maine’s ridges and summits.
We’ve learned a lot since that time. Now we know that grid-scale wind is unaffordable, unnecessary, unreliable, and unsustainable. Now we know that grid-scale wind energy has impacts which are far greater than its negligible benefits. Now we have some experience with grid-scale wind, and we know that the laws enacted in 2008 need to be adjusted. Due to what we’ve learned, a well-organized and thoughtful series of reform–legislation flooded the Legislature this session.
This is just some of what we’ve learned:
*We know that Maine’s electricity generation capacity far exceeds what we consume.
*We know wind is unreliable, not able to be stored, and is incompatible with the electrical transmission grid.
*We know wind needs constant backup by, and cannot replace base-load generation systems.
*We know that wind does not cause a material reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
*We know that Maine’s electricity generators use tiny amounts of coal or oil.
*We know that in order to get the electricity produced by wind to the New England grid, the Maine Power Reliability Project is necessary, and ratepayers will bear a portion of the $1.4 BILLION cost, increasing electricity rates.
*We know that, per MWh produced, subsidies for wind are many times higher than those for every other energy source.
*We know that up to 60% of those taxpayer subsidies go overseas to countries like China, Germany and Denmark, where the turbines are manufactured.
*We know that EVERY operating, multi-turbine, wind facility in Maine that has been sited near people now has significant unresolved disputes over noise and shadow flicker.
*We know that industrial turbines are a threat to migratory birds, raptors and bats.
*We know that wind developments create short-term construction jobs, but insignificant long-term employment of Mainers.
*We know that Maine’s storied natural resources are a major economic driver.
*We know that Maine’s #1 asset is our unequalled “Quality of Place”, and its foundation rests upon our natural resources.
FMM Government Relations Director Chris O’Neil said, “Rep. Dunphy’s minority report will take two important steps. It will order the worthwhile study proposed by the majority report, while omitting the costly fiscal note for noise studies. In addition, his report will provide protection in the form of minimum setbacks for industrial wind turbines—while still allowing property owners to allow reduced setbacks. This version of LD 1366 enacts safe setbacks, and that fixes many of the problems. FMM calls on the Maine Legislature to vote in support of Rep. Larry Dunphy’s ‘minority report’ on LD 1366.”
FMM Calls On Legislature To Pass Minority Report On LD1366
Below is a Press Release from the Friends of Maine’s Mountains. It is time that everyone in Augusta understood that the People of Maine are NOT going away, and that we WILL NOT be silent when it comes to the harm being done to this State and its People by industrial wind.
Any Wind Warrior who wishes to stand up and be counted is welcome to come stand in that room tomorrow while FMM delivers its statement to the Press regarding LD1366. They will be calling on the 125th Legislature to do the right thing by passing Representative Dunphy’s Minority Report on LD1366, and finally enacting some wind related legislation that is good for the People of Maine.
Please be in the Welcome Center, First Floor of the State House, Augusta, ME, at 11 a.m. tomorrow, if you are able. And please contact your State Representatives and ask them to stand with Representative Dunphy in doing what is right for the People of Maine.
I’ll be there tomorrow—I hope you will be too.
DC
PRESS RELEASE—FRIENDS OF MAINE’S MOUNTAINS
Friends of Maine’s Mountains calls upon the 125th Legislature to pass Rep. Larry Dunphy’s ‘Minority Report’ version of LD 1366: “An Act to Update the Maine Wind Energy Act”
From: Friends of Maine’s Mountains, 284 Main St. Suite 200, Wilton, ME 04294
To: Press—for release June 3, 2011
Re: Press Conference, Welcome Center, First Floor of the State House, Augusta, ME, 11:30 a.m., June 3, 2011
Contact: Chris O’Neil, Gov’t. Affairs Director, 590-3842, cponeil22@gmail.com
In 2008, in a panic as oil prices skyrocketed, Governor Baldacci and Maine’s Legislature committed to a “wind energy plan.” Believing that adding large amounts of wind energy to our electricity mix would be a good thing for our economy, our environment, and our security, Maine launched a plan to install 2700MW (name-plate capacity) of industrial wind turbines across hundreds of miles of Maine’s ridges and summits.
We’ve learned a lot since that time. Now we know that grid-scale wind is unaffordable, unnecessary, unreliable, and unsustainable. Now we know that grid-scale wind energy has impacts which are far greater than its negligible benefits. Now we have some experience with grid-scale wind, and we know that the laws enacted in 2008 need to be adjusted. Due to what we’ve learned, a well-organized and thoughtful series of reform–legislation flooded the Legislature this session.
This is just some of what we’ve learned:
*We know that Maine’s electricity generation capacity far exceeds what we consume.
*We know wind is unreliable, not able to be stored, and is incompatible with the electrical transmission grid.
*We know wind needs constant backup by, and cannot replace base-load generation systems.
*We know that wind does not cause a material reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
*We know that Maine’s electricity generators use tiny amounts of coal or oil.
*We know that in order to get the electricity produced by wind to the New England grid, the Maine Power Reliability Project is necessary, and ratepayers will bear a portion of the $1.4 BILLION cost, increasing electricity rates.
*We know that, per MWh produced, subsidies for wind are many times higher than those for every other energy source.
*We know that up to 60% of those taxpayer subsidies go overseas to countries like China, Germany and Denmark, where the turbines are manufactured.
*We know that EVERY operating, multi-turbine, wind facility in Maine that has been sited near people now has significant unresolved disputes over noise and shadow flicker.
*We know that industrial turbines are a threat to migratory birds, raptors and bats.
*We know that wind developments create short-term construction jobs, but insignificant long-term employment of Mainers.
*We know that Maine’s storied natural resources are a major economic driver.
*We know that Maine’s #1 asset is our unequalled “Quality of Place”, and its foundation rests upon our natural resources.
FMM Government Relations Director Chris O’Neil said, “Rep. Dunphy’s minority report will take two important steps. It will order the worthwhile study proposed by the majority report, while omitting the costly fiscal note for noise studies. In addition, his report will provide protection in the form of minimum setbacks for industrial wind turbines—while still allowing property owners to allow reduced setbacks. This version of LD 1366 enacts safe setbacks, and that fixes many of the problems. FMM calls on the Maine Legislature to vote in support of Rep. Larry Dunphy’s ‘minority report’ on LD 1366.”
About David Corrigan
Registered Maine Master Guide-- Owner, Fletcher Mountain Outfitters-- Operator, Appalachian Trail/Kennebec River Ferry Service