Jump to content

Wind power in Maine: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
ce and expand
Line 73: Line 73:
{{kml}}
{{kml}}


There are several '''[[wind power]] projects''' in the state of '''[[Maine]]'''. Former [[Governor of Maine|Governor]] [[John Baldacci]] has set a goal for the state of 2,000&nbsp;[[megawatt]]s of wind power installed by 2015 and 3,000&nbsp;MW by 2020.<ref name="adams"> {{cite news
There are several '''[[wind power]] projects''' in the state of '''[[Maine]]''', with a total of 521 MW in capacity. The largest single [[wind farm]] is Kibby Mountain with an installed capacity of 132 MW. Former [[Governor of Maine|Governor]] [[John Baldacci]] has set a goal for the state of 2,000&nbsp;[[megawatt]]s of wind power installed by 2015 and 3,000&nbsp;MW by 2020.<ref name="adams"> {{cite news
| url= http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/03/18/ap6182620.html
| url= http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/03/18/ap6182620.html
| title= Wind farm site in western Maine gets key equipment
| title= Wind farm site in western Maine gets key equipment
Line 80: Line 80:
| accessdate= 2009-03-21 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} </ref>
| accessdate= 2009-03-21 }} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} </ref>


⚫
As the number of megawatts increases, community opposition has arisen, expressed as litigation against mountain wind farms<ref>[http://www.bangordailynews.com/story/Penobscot/Friends-of-Lincoln-Lakes-renews-legal-challenge-to-wind-project,155022 Bangor News: Group renews legal challenge to Rollins Mountain Wind]</ref> and an ocean wind turbine proposal,<ref>[http://www.penbay.org/monhegan/court/briefs/huber_v_bpl_responsebrief_asst_ag_090710/monh_brief_mills_09071002a.html Petition against offshore wind test areas] </ref> as civic activism,<ref>[http://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/friends-of-ragged-mountain Friends of Ragged Mountain]</ref> and as development of municipal ordinances.<ref> [http://www.dixmontwind.org/ Dixmont Wind Ordinance]</ref>


{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Line 332: Line 331:
| date= 2008-01-15 | work= [[Morning Sentinel]] |publisher=
| date= 2008-01-15 | work= [[Morning Sentinel]] |publisher=
| accessdate= 2008-08-28 }} </ref>
| accessdate= 2008-08-28 }} </ref>

==Community debate==
A statewide poll in Spring 2007 by the Pan Atlantic SMS Group showed that 85% of Maine people supported wind power development.<ref name=nrcm>{{cite web |url=http://www.nrcm.org/news_detail.asp?news=3346 |title=Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Wind Power |author= |date=November 13th, 2009 |work=NRCM }}</ref>

A 2009 poll conducted by Portland-based Critical Insights shows that 90% of Maine people support the development of wind power as a source of electricity. Nearly nine in ten Mainers agree that "wind power can improve energy security and reduce Maine’s dependence on fossil fuels, and eight in ten agree that wind power will produce jobs and other forms of economic benefits".<ref name=nrcm/>

In a 2010 statewide telephone poll of 500 registered voters, 88 percent supported wind power in Maine. Calls to residents in seven rural "rim" counties, from Aroostook to Oxford, where most wind power projects are built or planned, showed 83 percent support. Survey results show that Maine residents strongly support wind power development, chiefly "because it cuts dependence on fossil fuels and creates jobs". The survey was done by Portland-based Pan Atlantic SMS Group for the Maine Renewable Energy Association.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/mainers-full-of-gusto-for-wind-power-survey-finds_2010-06-29.html |title=Mainers full of gusto for wind power, survey finds |author=Tux Turkel |date=June 29, 2010 |work=Portland Press Herald }}</ref>
⚫
However, some community opposition has arisen, expressed as litigation against mountain wind farms<ref>[http://www.bangordailynews.com/story/Penobscot/Friends-of-Lincoln-Lakes-renews-legal-challenge-to-wind-project,155022 Bangor News: Group renews legal challenge to Rollins Mountain Wind]</ref> and an ocean wind turbine proposal,<ref>[http://www.penbay.org/monhegan/court/briefs/huber_v_bpl_responsebrief_asst_ag_090710/monh_brief_mills_09071002a.html Petition against offshore wind test areas] </ref> as civic activism,<ref>[http://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/friends-of-ragged-mountain Friends of Ragged Mountain]</ref> and as development of municipal ordinances.<ref> [http://www.dixmontwind.org/ Dixmont Wind Ordinance]</ref>

==See also==
==See also==
*[[Wind power in the United States]]
*[[Wind power in the United States]]
*[[Wind power in Texas]]
*[[Renewable energy in the United States]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=25em}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==

Revision as of 22:40, 1 February 2012

Wind power in Maine is located in Maine
Mars Hill
Stetson
Kibby
    Longfellow
    Longfellow
Oakfield
Oakfield
Record
Record
Rollins
Rollins
Fox Islands
Beaver Ridge
Beaver Ridge
Bull Hill
Bull Hill
Spruce Mountain
Spruce Mountain
class=notpageimage|
Wind farms in Maine
  Operating
  Under construction
  Proposed
 
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

There are several wind power projects in the state of Maine, with a total of 521 MW in capacity. The largest single wind farm is Kibby Mountain with an installed capacity of 132 MW. Former Governor John Baldacci has set a goal for the state of 2,000 megawatts of wind power installed by 2015 and 3,000 MW by 2020.[1]


Name Capacity
(MW)		 Number of Turbines Location
(county)		 Status Developer Completed
Mars Hill 42 28 Aroostook Operating First Wind 2006
Spruce Mountain 20 10 Oxford Under Construction Patriot Renewables 2011
Kibby Mountain 132   44 Franklin Operating TransCanada 2010
Stetson I 57 38 Washington Operating First Wind 2009
Stetson II 25.5 17 Washington Approved First Wind
Fox Islands 4.5 3 Knox Operating Fox Islands Electric Cooperative 2009
Longfellow 40 19 Oxford Proposed First Wind
Oakfield 51 34 Aroostook Proposed First Wind
Rollins 60 40 Penobscot Operating[2] First Wind 2011
Record Hill 50.6 22 Oxford Proposed Independence Wind
Beaver Ridge      4.5 3 Waldo Operating Patriot Renewables 2008
Bull Hill    34.2 19 Hancock County Proposed First Wind
Total:  521.3

Operating Wind Farms

Mars Hill

Mars Hil wind farm.

Mars Hill (46°31.26′N 67°48.82′W / 46.52100°N 67.81367°W / 46.52100; -67.81367 (Mars Hill)), in the town of Mars Hill, Maine, underwent an $85 million wind turbine project in the fall of 2006, installing more than 28 GE 1.5 MW Wind Turbines along the top and northern section of the mountain, which overlooks Canada. The windmills are assembled in four parts. The towers, made of three support sections stacked on top of one another, and each weighing 20,000 pounds, are 262 ft (80 m) tall. The blades attached to the hub of the turbine are about 115 ft (35 m) long — almost the wingspan of a Boeing 747 jet-liner.

Kibby Mountain

Kibby Wind Power

The Kibby Mountain wind farm project — at a capacity of 132 MW, prospectively New England's largest[3] — comprises forty-four 3 MW wind turbines strung along the ridges of Kibby Mtn. (45°25.12′N 70°32.66′W / 45.41867°N 70.54433°W / 45.41867; -70.54433 (Kibby Mountain)) and nearby Kibby Range (45°21.13′N 70°34.58′W / 45.35217°N 70.57633°W / 45.35217; -70.57633 (Kibby Range)).[4] is expected to generate about 357 million kilowatt-hours (41 MW·yr) of electricity annually. Half the turbines were put online in October 2009, and TransCanada completed the project in 2010.[5] The capital cost of the project is approximately US $320 million.[6] Work on clearing the site began by September 2008.[7]

Stetson

Stetson Wind Farm began commercial operations in January 2009. The 57 megawatt wind farm consists of 38  GE 1.5 MW Wind Turbines strung along the north–south ridge of Stetson Mountain (45°31′34″N 67°58′35″W / 45.52611°N 67.97639°W / 45.52611; -67.97639 (Stetson Mountain)), and will generate approximately 167 million kilowatt-hours (kW·h) of electricity per year. Stetson Wind Farm surpassed the Mars Hill Wind Farm as the largest wind energy project in operation in New England.[8] In March 2009, the LURC approved First Wind's $60 million 25.5 MW Stetson II expansion. Seventeen turbines will be installed on nearby Jimmy (45°37′48″N 67°58′47″W / 45.63000°N 67.97972°W / 45.63000; -67.97972 (Jimmy Mountain)) and Owl (45°35′34″N 67°57′34″W / 45.59278°N 67.95944°W / 45.59278; -67.95944 (Owl Mountain)) mountains.[9] In September 2009, First Wind received $40.44 million from the federal government for the Stetson I project; it was one of twelve grants made to wind projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus program.[10]

Rollins

In addition to the Stetson and Mars Hill projects, First Wind completed a 60 MW wind farm, with forty 1.5-MW turbines, on Rollins Mountain (45°23′14″N 68°21′49″W / 45.38724°N 68.36371°W / 45.38724; -68.36371 (Rollins Mountain)) and other hills in the Penobscot County towns of Lincoln, Burlington, Lee, and Winn.[11][12] The estimated cost is US$ 130 million.[13]

Fox Islands

The Fox Islands Wind Power Project (44°05′38″N 68°52′05″W / 44.094°N 68.868°W / 44.094; -68.868 (Fox Islands, Maine)) is a 4.5 MW wind project consisting of three GE 1.5 MW wind turbines, providing power for North Haven and Vinalhaven Island. The $14.5 million project is expected to produce 11,600 megawatt-hours of electricity per year. Approved by a vote of 383–5 on July 29, 2008 by members of the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative, construction began on June 29, 2009, and the wind farm went online on November 17.[14][15][16] The project has significantly reduced rates on the island residents, who previously imported all their power from the mainland via a submarine power cable.[17][18] However, the noise generated by the turbines has caused considerable controversy on the island.[19]

Beaver Ridge

The 3 turbine Beaver Ridge Wind Project is located in Freedom. It is owned and operated by Patriot Renewables and was commissioned on November 1, 2008.[20]

Proposed Wind Projects

Longfellow

First Wind proposed an installation on Black Mountain (44°35′02″N 70°38′15″W / 44.5840°N 70.6376°W / 44.5840; -70.6376 (Black Mountain)) in Rumford.

The Longfellow project would have 16 turbines that could produce 40 MW of electricity, enough to power about 17,000 homes in the Northeast. The power would be sold to the New England power grid. If the plan goes ahead, the wind turbines would be built on the west side of the mountain, away from the Black Mountain ski area.

Bull Hill

A proposed 34.2 MW wind project on Bull Hill (44°43′34″N 68°10′11″W / 44.72616°N 68.16963°W / 44.72616; -68.16963 (Bull Hill)) and adjoining hills in Maine Township 16, MD, would be built by Blue Sky East LLC, a subsidiary of First Wind. The $78.5 million project would consist of 19 Vestas V100-1.8MW wind turbines.[21][22][23]

Oakfield

A proposed 51 MW wind project in Oakfield (46°06′N 68°09′W / 46.10°N 68.15°W / 46.10; -68.15 (Oakfield, Maine)) will consist of as many as 34 GE 1.5 MW Wind Turbines.[24]

Record Hill

Record Hill Wind is a proposed 55 MW wind project in Roxbury, consisting of 22 turbines arrayed along a four-mile-long north–south ridgeline connecting Record Hill, Flathead Mountain (44°39′40″N 70°37′41″W / 44.661°N 70.628°W / 44.661; -70.628 (Flathead Mountain, Record Hill Wind)), and Partridge Peak. The electrical output of the project is estimated to be approximately 160 million kW·h (18 MW·yr) per year.[25]

Deepwater Offshore wind

The DeepCwind Consortium's [26] mission is to establish the State of Maine as a national leader in deepwater offshore wind technology through a research initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and others. The University of Maine-led consortium includes universities, nonprofits, and utilities; a wide range of industry leaders in offshore design, offshore construction, and marine structures manufacturing; firms with expertise in wind project siting, environmental analysis, environmental law, composites materials to assist in corrosion-resistant material design and selection, and energy investment; and industry organizations to assist with education and tech transfer activities.

The Ocean Energy Institute, founded by Matthew Simmons, is advocating developing wind power in the Gulf of Maine.[27] Simmons and his partner, physicist George Hart, propose an enormous, 5-gigawatt wind farm, with five 64 nmi² (220 km²) sections, each containing 200 5-MW turbines. That would generate sufficient power in winter to replace the state's consumption of home heating oil. According to Simmons, a proponent of peak oil, "If we don't do this, we're going to have to evacuate most of Maine."[28]

As proposed, the turbines would be built on floating platforms, anchored in waters 100–200 meters (330–660 ft) deep — something that has never been done in the United States. It will take several years to test the feasibility of such buoyed turbines. (The Hywind wind turbine became the world's first operating large-capacity (2.3 MW) floating wind turbine in the summer of 2009, operating in the North Sea off Norway.) Hart said, "three qualities — survivability, reliability, and performance — are what investment bankers need to see before they're going to put up the large amount of capital needed".[28]

Angus King, a former governor of Maine, is supportive of the idea."I see this as a huge economic development opportunity for Maine,... This thing could create 20,000 to 30,000 jobs." However, others have challenged the project's projected cost, which could reach $25 billion.[29][30]

Canceled Proposals

Redington and Black Nubble

Public opinion for a proposed wind farm on Redington Mountain

In 2005, Maine Mountain Power (MMP) filed an application with the Maine Land Use Regulation Committee (LURC) for a permit to develop a 30-turbine wind farm on Mount Redington (45°1.50′N 70°23.32′W / 45.02500°N 70.38867°W / 45.02500; -70.38867 (Mount Redington)) and neighboring Black Nubble (45°1.92′N 70°26.83′W / 45.03200°N 70.44717°W / 45.03200; -70.44717 (Black Nubble)).[31] After years of contentious debate, the proposal was voted down by the LURC in 2007. The summit of Redington was seen as too ecologically sensitive — a sub-alpine fir habitat providing a home for two rare species, the bog lemming and Bicknell's thrush. Also, the development would have been visible for miles along the Appalachian Trail (AT).[32][33][34] A revised proposal, for 18 turbines only on Black Nubble, was put forward by MMP, supported by many environmental groups,[32][35] but still opposed by Maine Audubon.[36] The project was rejected by the LURC in 2008.[37]

Community debate

A statewide poll in Spring 2007 by the Pan Atlantic SMS Group showed that 85% of Maine people supported wind power development.[38]

A 2009 poll conducted by Portland-based Critical Insights shows that 90% of Maine people support the development of wind power as a source of electricity. Nearly nine in ten Mainers agree that "wind power can improve energy security and reduce Maine’s dependence on fossil fuels, and eight in ten agree that wind power will produce jobs and other forms of economic benefits".[38]

In a 2010 statewide telephone poll of 500 registered voters, 88 percent supported wind power in Maine. Calls to residents in seven rural "rim" counties, from Aroostook to Oxford, where most wind power projects are built or planned, showed 83 percent support. Survey results show that Maine residents strongly support wind power development, chiefly "because it cuts dependence on fossil fuels and creates jobs". The survey was done by Portland-based Pan Atlantic SMS Group for the Maine Renewable Energy Association.[39]

However, some community opposition has arisen, expressed as litigation against mountain wind farms[40] and an ocean wind turbine proposal,[41] as civic activism,[42] and as development of municipal ordinances.[43]

See also

References

  1. ^ Adams, Glenn (March 18, 2009). "Wind farm site in western Maine gets key equipment". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-03-21. [dead link]
  2. ^ EIA Electric Power Montly, Oct 2011 p.13
  3. ^ "State approves Kibby wind farm project". Bangor Daily News. 2008-07-10. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  4. ^ "Kibby Wind Power". TransCanada Corporation. 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  5. ^ "Kibby Mountain Wind Farm Begins Operations". WCSH. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  6. ^ "Kibby Wind Power Project Receives LURC Approval". TransCanada Corp. 2008-07-09. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  7. ^ "Work begins on Maine's largest wind farm". Associated Press. 2008-09-03. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  8. ^ "57-MW Stetson Wind Farm Starts Commercial Operations in Maine". RenewableEnergyWorld.com. January 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  9. ^ Sambides, Nick Jr. (March 4, 2009). "Commission OKs Stetson II wind farm". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  10. ^ Sambides, Nick Jr. (September 2, 2009). "Maine wind farm gets stimulus funds". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  11. ^ Sambides, Nick Jr. (2008-08-15). "Lincoln Announces Wind Farm Hearing". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  12. ^ Pater, Joe. "Rollins Wind - The Lincoln Maine Wind Project". Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  13. ^ Sambides, Nick Jr. (2010-10-17). "40-turbine wind project under way". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
  14. ^ Tyler, David A. (2009). "Community celebrates Fox Islands wind power groundbreaking". The Working Waterfront. Retrieved 2009-07-03. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  15. ^ Curtis, Abigail (June 30, 2009). "Vinalhaven turbines to provide enough electricity for 1,500". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2009-07-03. [dead link]
  16. ^ "Maine Islands Get Power From Wind". Associated Press (AP). November 17 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Fox Islands Electric Wind Power Project". Fox Islands Electric. Retrieved 2009-06-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  18. ^ Conkling, Micah (2009). "Construction to start on Fox Islands wind project". The Working Waterfront. Retrieved 2009-06-05. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  19. ^ Zeller, Tom Jr. (October 5, 2010). "For Those Near, the Miserable Hum of Clean Energy". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-10-14. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/ne_project_detail.asp?id=50
  21. ^ Miller, Kevin (5 October 2011). "LURC approves 19-turbine wind farm in Hancock County". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 13 October 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  22. ^ "First Wind - Blue Sky East LLC/Bull Hill Development Permit for Wind Energy". Maine Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC). 3 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  23. ^ "EastbrookWind.Org". 2009-04-09. Retrieved 13 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  24. ^ Sambides, Nick Jr. (2009-04-09). "Wind power developer seeks to build in Oakfield". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  25. ^ "Project Overview". Record Hill Wind. Retrieved 2009-05-09. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  26. ^ Deepcwind.org
  27. ^ "Ocean Energy Institute". 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  28. ^ a b Gies, Erica (November 26, 2008). "Plans for the world's biggest wind farm". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  29. ^ J Dwight (December 14, 2008). "The biggest con job in the history of man". Sun Journal. Retrieved 2008-12-15. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help) [dead link]
  30. ^ Fehrenbacher, Katie (December 1, 2008). "Gulf of Maine Wind Proposal Could Cost $25B". earth2tech.com. Retrieved 2008-12-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "Get The Facts". Maine Mountain Power. 2006. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  32. ^ a b Crowell, Alan (2007-07-11). "Black Nubble wind project supporters line up". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  33. ^ "Maine Mountain Power Redington Wind Farm Application for Development". Maine LURC. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  34. ^ "Redington wind farm a step toward Maine's energy future". Portland Press Herald. 2006-07-29. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  35. ^ "Support Builds for Black Nubble Wind Farm". Natural Resources Council of Maine. 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  36. ^ "Will you help Maine Audubon fight an uphill battle for wildlife-friendly wind power in Maine?". Maine Audubon. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  37. ^ "Wind project rulings issued: Panel OKs Kibby, rejects Black Nubble". Morning Sentinel. 2008-01-15. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  38. ^ a b "Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Wind Power". NRCM. November 13th, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ Tux Turkel (June 29, 2010). "Mainers full of gusto for wind power, survey finds". Portland Press Herald.
  40. ^ Bangor News: Group renews legal challenge to Rollins Mountain Wind
  41. ^ Petition against offshore wind test areas
  42. ^ Friends of Ragged Mountain
  43. ^ Dixmont Wind Ordinance
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wind power in Maine.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wind_power_in_Maine&oldid=474478553"