Maine Wind Farm plan revisited

[arghman]

<begin tangent>
interesting historical notes in an IEEE magazine I got today:

First wind-driven generator was made in 1887 by Charles Brush (inventor of the arc lamp) in Cleveland OH for his own mansion; it was rated at 12 KW, and ran for 20 years.

In 1941 a 1.5 megawatt turbine/generator was constructed on Grandpa's Knob near Rutland Vermont; it operated from 1941 until 1945 when it could not be repaired due to wartime shortages.
<end tangent>

 

[dms]

I think that more than unsightly views are at stake. This huge project would create a total transformation of the Kibby Range area from a remote and undeveloped one to a commercial almost industrial location. Such a major step requires careful and thoughtful consideration, rather than immediate acceptance, and throw away phrases like "get over it".

 

[Mike P.]

With the existing platforms in the gulf not pumping oil (or when they stop) pumping should be good places for windmills they already have the structures & the area is used to structures off shore.

Not being an avid boater if the wind farms were tiny dots off the coast it would not bother my beach experience. Putting my umbrella under a windmill would.

 

[g o]

Brownie said "In the end, the largest opposition will most likely be from local residents for concerns about the skyline views alone.
After all, it’s the only impact study that can’t be surmounted by convincing scientific evidence.

dms said "I think that more than unsightly views are at stake. This huge project would create a total transformation of the Kibby Range area from a remote and undeveloped one to a commercial almost industrial location. Such a major step requires careful and thoughtful consideration, rather than immediate acceptance, and throw away phrases like "get over it".

as someone who lives (very close to kibby and redington) in the western mountains of maine, i'd have to say that the folks i speak with up here, and myself included, agree with dms. we live here for different reasons, but it boils down to what is here and what is not here. whats not here is industrial development and everything that goes with it. what is here is mountains, rivers, forest, wildlife, a few small towns here and there, and thats mostly it. thats why we live here. it's not just the skyline views when your starting with an undeveloped area.

 

[king tut]

Has NH thought about some wind turbines on Mt Washington? It is supposedly the windiest peak in the NE and there are already plenty of buildings to spoil the wilderness.

As far as wind farms in maine, they wouldn't bother me too much. Seeing them, I would know that they are producing clean energy versus coal factories or power plants. There's only so much radioactive waste that we can send to New Jersey or Texas to the Superfun!(d) sites. Like someone already mentioned, we already have plenty of dams in the rivers, i don't get offended when i see them. They also provide for some great white water rafting.

 

[funkyfreddy]

IMHO the obsession with power in our society is a cancer.....

I'm all for Wind factories on the Atlantic Ocean. As far as I'm concerned their should be a wind turbine on top of every bridge and skyscraper as well as lines of them out at sea to take advantage of the almost constant ocean winds.

I'm TOTALLY AGAINST industrializing (destroying) some of the most beautiful forests we have left in the NE for more or cheaper "POWER." My, my, how we humans lust over this word and it's many implications. Would it be worth the POWER to install one on top of or right next to Baxter, Bigelow, Saddleback, etc.?

Hmmm...... How many TV sets, computers, or air conditioners is the Bigelow Range equivalent to? How many kilowatts should Maine sell it's soul for? What price would you put on the view of stars you see in the night skies of Baxter? Would you trade them for POWER?

 

[forestgnome]

I'm all for Wind factories on the Atlantic Ocean. As far as I'm concerned their should be a wind turbine on top of every bridge and skyscraper as well as lines of them out at sea to take advantage of the almost constant ocean winds.

I'm TOTALLY AGAINST industrializing (destroying) some of the most beautiful forests we have left in the NE for more or cheaper "POWER." My, my, how we humans lust over this word and it's many implications. Would it be worth the POWER to install one on top of or right next to Baxter, Bigelow, Saddleback, etc.?

Hmmm...... How many TV sets, computers, or air conditioners is the Bigelow Range equivalent to? How many kilowatts should Maine sell it's soul for? What price would you put on the view of stars you see in the night skies of Baxter? Would you trade them for POWER?

Amen, brother!

 

[arghman]

Has NH thought about some wind turbines on Mt Washington? It is supposedly the windiest peak in the NE and there are already plenty of buildings to spoil the wilderness.

Put 'em on South Uncanoonuc in Goffstown. We already have a zillion cell phone towers so the peak is already ruined, they might as well bring some more tax dollars to town.

 

[WindFarmer]

The Redington Windfarm will produce enough energy to provide 2.2% of Maine's electricity (equivalent power for 44,000 Maine homes). Not an "insignificant" amount of energy. If people conserved more - it could be a larger percentage.

The site was chosen because of the existing infrastructure (over 12 miles of existing roads and bridges) and its proximity to a large powerline to send the power to the grid.

It's being developed by people who hike and care deeply about the environment (like myself) - which is why we're building it. It will prevent over 800,000 pounds of pollution EVERY DAY.

It seems that everyone loves the idea of wind power - as long as it is someplace else. There will never be a "perfect" spot - but Redington is pretty close.

-windfarmer

 

[Nadine]

Is the power generated in Maine going to be shipped out of state?

 

[Chip]

most local utilities offer the option of buying "green" energy. It costs more. So if I want to buy green energy and someone in ME or some state doesn't, it'll get sold to our grid.

 

[forestgnome]

It seems that everyone loves the idea of wind power - as long as it is someplace else. There will never be a "perfect" spot - but Redington is pretty close.-windfarmer

Cape Cod is closer to perfect.

 

[David Metsky]

Cape Cod is closer to perfect.

IMO, both are quite good but they're not connected in any significant way.

While there are always valid reasons for and against any project, in these two cases I think the positives outweigh the negatives. Obviously, people can disagree.

-dave-

 

[Chip]

I find much of this discussion odd and hypocritical.
Damming a river for hydro-electric power can hardly be viewed as an aesthetically pleasing choice. Nuclear Plants aren't being built. Nobody wants a windfarm on their beach or mountain. Nobody wants to drill for oil anywhere. And yet we all are happy consumers of energy. I'd take a windfarm, hydroelectric plant and photovoltaic cells on my roof and in my yard all day long if it meant zero dependence on foreign oil.

 

[Mr. X]

I think they should exhaust all "developed" mountain tops before cutting into a new one, just my $.02.

 

[WalksWithBlackflies]

There are a couple of windfarms in Central NY. I don't think they look all that bad, considering the alternatives (see photos). BTW, you can't place a windfarm just anywhere... too windy is just as bad as not windy enough.

 

[dms]

I don't see any transmission lines in the tower photos, they are an intrusive part of the development. I am not against wind power, but all the development, including the roads, buildings, and the lines to tie into the power grid, has to be considered as causing environmental impact as well.

 

[funkyfreddy]

I find much of this discussion odd and hypocritical.

I do, too! What I find odd and hypocritical is that a lot of people here love to "bag" peaks but don't seem to give a damn about preserving them or conserving the areas around them. I really don't think we need to sacrifice this area for wind power, regardless of the above stated corporate BS and PR. Sacrificing so much for so little creates a very bad precedent for the future, and you know there will be even greater development pressures in the NE as time goes on and population increases......

Do we really want to industrialize the area between Saddleback, Abraham, and Bigelow in Maine for a bit more power? Are you willing to sell out the Maine Appalachian Trail and one of the nicest rural areas left in Maine?

As far as the "not in my backyard" syndrome, I've previously stated that I would love to have a wind turbines on top of my apartment building and all of the bridges and skyscrapers in my city! Put them out to sea and across our shorelines also...... but please, let's leave the Bigelow area alone and keep Maine beautiful!

 

[king tut]

Selling out the AT? The AT does not go over Redington, but you will be able to see the wind towers from quite a few of the mountains. I ski a lot at Sugarloaf, and i do not believe that Sugarloaf has sold out the AT. There are far more towers, buildings and lifts on Sugarloaf than there will be on Redington. What I find ugly is all the clear cuts you can see in the Redington valley when you are skiing at Sugarloaf. I would much rather look at the wind towers than all the clear cuts.

One other point i will make is that when you hike in the Sugarloaf/Bigelow area is that you can see the big smog factory from the wood plant at the base of Cranberry Peak of the Bigelow range. It spews lots of pollution right into the air. Would people rather see more smog stacks like that, or examples of green energy? And most of the infrastructure(i.e. roads) are already in place. With progress does come a few setbacks. So unless you are reading this from your teepee on your organic computer, you are benefitting from progress. To criticize things is a little hypocritical.

But, that being said, i would never want to see anything like this in Baxter or any drilling in the Alaskan wilderness. I am not trying to criticize any previous posts, just providing an alternate point of view.

 

[funkyfreddy]

Progress???

you are benefitting from progress..... To criticize things is a little hypocritical........

So says every developer and corporate crony, their plans always packaged as "PROGRESS".......

Excuse me, but somehow I'm being hypocritical because I oppose developing this area? Huh? How do you arrive at that conclusion? Are you implying that I have to go along with all plans for development everywhere because I happen to use gas or electricity? Hello? I think that is a flawed argument or assumption at best.......

I think we need to be far more critical and analytical before we lose the Bigelow area to industrial development.