About a year ago I wrote the poem ‘The Ides Of March,’ which is copied below. In the introduction to that poem, I wrote these words:
Mark my words, folks: We’ve got them on the run, and we ARE GOING TO WIN THIS FIGHT!
Well, a year later, things are looking good. Let’s have a look at what is happening now, compared to some of the things that I wrote about in March of 2011.
“The Rollins Project presses on—turbines rising to the sky “
The Rollins Project has gone online, and property owners, even some who supported the project, are finding that the noise and flashing lights are not only disruptive to peaceful living, but are also making it impossible for them to sell their homes or camps.
“Sisk is standing next in line, a sacred ridgeline doomed to die “
The Sisk Mountain Project is currently before the Law Court on appeal, and so far, the Mountain remains largely untouched.
“Spruce and Bowers, Saddleback and Highland, and so many others—all know their time is nigh”
The Spruce Mountain Project has gone online, but the good people of Woodstock have put in place a moratorium to allow themselves time to draft an ordinance before the planned expansion can take place. People ARE learning!
The Saddleback Ridge Project, although approved by the rubber stamping machine at the Maine DEP, is being appealed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, and it is quite likely that Attorney Rufus Brown will make some good arguments against the approval of this permit. Also, Friends of Maine’s Mountains currently holds a deed to part of the Saddleback ridgeline, effectively blocking development on at least part of the Mountain.
The Highland Project has been withdrawn, and though the developers say they are coming back, the lead snake oil salesman on this project, former governor Angus King, has recently divested himself of all legal interest in wind developments, in favor of running for US Senate. The Highland Project was originally proposed for construction in the summer of 2010….as of today, late March 2012, there is not even a valid application on the table, and a majority of Highland Plantation Residents have signed a petition asking the developer to go away, and also asking the Governor to remove their town from the Expedited Wind Permitting Area.
The Bowers Project has been fought through the LURC process, and although nothing is set in stone, we fully expect that the LURC Commissioners will DENY the permit at their April 6th meeting in Lincoln. This project deserves to die on the table, and it looks like it will!
With it may go First Wind’s hopes of developing all of Eastern Maine on the Tax Payer’s dime, as they are currently out of money, and the folks who research these things tell me that if The Maine Public Utilities Commission doesn’t quickly approve their merger with Emera [the parent company of Bangor Hydro], then First Wind could start defaulting on its loans [think Solyndra....], before mud season is over…… Again, nothing is written in stone, but their chances for a successful merger appear to be slim. Ad to that the fact that the federal subsidies are drying up, and suddenly the future doesn’t look so bright for these parasites.
“There will come a day, not too far away, when the laws and the policies will become more sound “
Towns across Maine are quickly coming to the realization that they need to protect themselves, and several dozen have enacted moratoriums or ordinances to stop or limit wind development within their borders. The People of Maine are learning the truth, and they are protecting themselves.
And finally, just yesterday we got the long awaited report on the state of wind development from The Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security. This report was mandated by the Legislature last year, after the People of Maine flooded them with proposed legislation to change the wind laws. The complete report and all of its attachments can be read at this link:
This report was mandated by the Legislature, and authored by the Governor’s Office. While I don’t think that is perfect, I do believe that it is just what we need to move forward. If the recommendations in this report are implemented, then Maine, Her People, Animals, and Mountains, will all be much better off than they are today.
I encourage everyone to read this report, and I encourage everyone to keep fighting. Educate your friends and neighbors, get those moratoriums and ordinances enacted in your towns, and encourage, no, DEMAND, that the Legislature and the Governor move forward with the recommendations in the OEIS Report.
One year ago I promised that:
“Those who this year are feeling pain—will be well again, in time
But those who would destroy our land, one year from now, will leave without a dime
Those who would destroy our Maine—in the name of ‘common good’
Will find themselves out in the cold, as all dishonest persons should
And those who now are feeling pain, will once more walk in the healing wood”
We have made great progress, but there is much work yet to be done. If we keep the pressure on, then The Ides of March 2013 will be even better. To those who are suffering, I say; just hang in there. And to the wind industry and their corrupt friends, I say: Beware the Ides of March!
DC
The Ides Of March— Originally published on March 12, 2011
The Ides Of March is an uncertain, middle time, for those who live in Maine
We might see snow, we might see cold–almost sure we’ll see some rain
This year though, the way things go, we all will see some pain.
See some pain for what has come—see some pain for what is here
Know the pain of the people of Maine, as they watch their life-blood disappear
Feel the terrible sickness that comes, with the destruction of the Mountains they hold so dear
The Rollins Project presses on—turbines rising to the sky
Sisk is standing next in line, a sacred ridgeline doomed to die
Spruce and Bowers, Saddleback and Highland, and so many others—all know their time is nigh
“Beware the Ides Of March,” was told a powerful man, so long ago
He brushed it off, to his great loss, because he simply didn’t know
Did not believe that things foretold—that things predicted could be so
The Ides Of March this very year, will be a painful time
But things will change, things will improve—the wise will mark my rhyme
Another year will pass, and many things will change—The Ides of March 2012, will be a brighter time
For even as the assault goes on—even as the turbines rise
Many are working to spread the truth, a truth that will not compromise
We’ll tell the truth, and demand the truth, and make them look us in the eyes
When the truth is told, there are none so bold, but will have to come around
For the truth is strong, and those who are wrong, know they stand not on solid ground
There will come a day, not too far away, when the laws and the policies will become more sound
Beware The Ides Of March, all ye who read my rhyme
Those who this year are feeling pain—will be well again, in time
But those who would destroy our land, one year from now, will leave without a dime
Those who would destroy our Maine—in the name of ‘common good’
Will find themselves out in the cold, as all dishonest persons should
And those who now are feeling pain, will once more walk in the healing wood
Thank you, David, for your words of hope. Our mountains shall stand unsullied and unshackled by greed and ignorance if we prevail. That’s worth fighting for.
We must persevere. The opposition is hoping we will go away, but we won’t. I emailed Steve Ward with a request he include more pics in the report, especially the red blinking lights over Upper Pond. That electric lake effect is experienced over most of Lincoln’s Lakes. I also asked him to investigate the pollution savings claims (data supplied by First Wind) and suggested an independent outfit, not paid by FW,
do the study. We know FW has no way to measure C02 reduction other than hopeful theoretical math and wishful thinking.
Mike D. do you have any photos of the electric lake effect? I am sure it is not in “scenic” impact. eh?