Maine Land Use Commission Rejects Wind Power Proposal

Despite LURC ruling, governor upbeat on wind power

By Glenn Adams, Associated Press Writer | January 28, 2007

AUGUSTA, Maine --Despite last week's ruling by state officials that could lead to final rejection of the proposed Redington wind power project in western Maine, Gov. John Baldacci said he remains committed to that form of renewable energy.

The governor did not question last Wednesday's 6-1 vote by the Land Use Regulation Commission, saying that LURC "is an independent, citizen board" that must scrutinize each project in a balanced and measured way.

"They are responsible for evaluating projects like this one. Just because I support an expansion of wind energy does not exempt the project from the review process. These things have to be done in a reasonable way," the governor told The Associated Press.

Maine Mountain Power, meanwhile, remained undecided Sunday on what its next step will be following the wilderness zoning board's ruling against its $130 million project, which called for 30 wind turbines on Redington and Black Nubble mountains, spokesman Dennis Bailey said.

Of course, this seems entirely ridiculous to me, although its impossible for me to give a real opinion without reading the exact details of the proposal submitted and the reasons for rejection. I am just confused as to what the Land Use Regulation Commission is holding out for? I mean we need to start really focusing on renewable energy and Maine can take the pioneering first step into developing multiple wind farms... This is a shot in the foot to all proponents of sustainable energy. Read the rest here.