RUMFORD — Selectmen learned at Thursday night's meeting that a Massachusetts-based wind developer has retooled its project to erect 12 of 19 wind turbines on town mountains. The other seven are proposed for siting in Roxbury.
Rumford Selectman Greg Buccina, left, listens as Massachusetts-based First Wind Development Director and project manager Neil Kiely shares some details about their rekindled 19-turbine wind farm, 12 turbines of which are proposed to be sited atop Rumford mountains while the other seven are slated for Roxbury.
Additionally, if the First Wind project is approved in Rumford, the town would realize a currently estimated increased valuation of $65 million.
Chairman Brad Adley set the rules for discussion, telling about 40 people in the audience that selectmen would not take any public comment. He said the only discussion would be between the board and First Wind project manager Neil Kiely.
Kiely then briefed past work by the company to determine if it was feasible to erect wind towers on Black Mountain and adjacent North and South Twin mountains.
Last year, after learning that the intensity of wind blowing atop these peaks rendered their project as initially designed unfeasible due to the wind turbines they had pre-selected, First Wind killed the project.
Since then, Kiely said they've resolved those difficulties and have reactivated the development.
However, he said he could not reveal any plans due to Rumford's current moratorium on wind power until the town can enact an ordinance to regulate it.
Initially, the town OK'd a six-month moratorium and recently extended it another six months to enable the board's Wind Power Advisory Committee to finish drafting the ordinance.
That will soon be completed and is expected to go before voters at the November elections, following a series of public hearings.
Kiely said that until the town either adopts an ordinance or votes it down, First Wind can't present its project until it knows what the town will allow or not allow.
However, he did provide an overview of the project.
“Right now, we're looking at a 19-turbine project, with 12 turbines potentially installed in the town of Rumford,” Kiely said. “I don't see that number growing under any scenario.”
He then spoke about the potential economic impact of such a project based on estimates from consultants.
“Based on 12 turbines and related equipment and assets, I've been informed that it will be in the range of $65 million,” Kiely said.
He then said the company would seek tax increment financing from Rumford for the project.
Kiely also said First Wind would provide an annual community fund benefit to Rumford per state law of $50,000. He said the town and First Wind would work together to determine how that money would be spent.
Additionally, he said that the town and state would reap a short-term economic benefit during construction. Using figures from First Wind's Stetson Mountain project completed this spring, he said the company spent $50 million in Maine.
He also invited the board, public and residents to tour the Stetson project at a date to be later determined.
“We're hopeful that we can work with the town to find a solution that works for both of us,” Kiely said.
Selectmen then discussed among themselves where they are at in the ordinance development process. After which, Kiely asked that First Wind be allowed to help in the process by providing information and feedback.
Report a correction
wind is the future
The future is now .Look at the disaster in the gulf and the effect it will have for years on everyone's lives. How can we not invest in a cleaner future ? Yes, the cost may be more now ,but look at the Gulf and see the results of doing nothing. Wind power has been in Europe for years .It is part of the power solution for the future that we can start using and investing in now. Ask the people in the Gulf which they would rather have now, wind turbines or oil wells.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Buy Them
Northwoods- you have gone to great lengths with the calculations. I wonder if you would do a couple for me. Would you please calculate the cost of construction and fuel to generate comperable power using coal, gas, oil and god help us nuclear plants. Also include disposal of waste including decommissioning in the case of nuclear, and treatment for asthma, COPD, emphasema, cancer and all the other diseases resulting from the operation of these plants plus the premature deaths and loss of income.
Lindy'index_you ask a very good question as to what price on th mountains-pso what price are you willing to pay to own them and do what you want with them? If you own them you have the right to do what you want with them including not have wind turbines. I suggest you folks opposed to windturbines start putting your money where your mouthes are and buy up the mountains so the turbines can't be built.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I can hope the committee wont try to snowball the voters
Macmac-you asked "Whatever happened to the message that wind machine energy conversion is our great 'green' hope to planet survival?" The answer is NIMBY. It is hard to believe that it was only 18 years ago that I sat on NOCC for 3 years looking into the "Cancer Valley" myth Rumford had been tagged with. We proved it was a myth, we proved the mill was not killinng us, and we proved the pollutants in out air were coming from coal, gas, and oil burning plants across the state border. You cannot imagine my shock when I returned to Rumford in 2009 to find a gas burning cancer agent emitting plant had been built in Rumford. At the same time people are fighting wind turbines which produce electricity with zero emissionns to fill a growing demand and will avoind the need for construction of more of these cancer factories. The people fighting these wind turbines have never visited a wind farm but are screaming about noise and flicker and ugliness.
Lisan180 I can assure you I have not figured out how to teleport. I had to travel by car like anyone else to the wind farms I have visited which means I did not just stand directly under the wind turbines. At no time was there any noise to speak of. I heard absolutely nothing while in the car at any time that could be attributed to the turbines. Lisan180 have you personally ever been to a wind farm or even a single turbine or are you just repeating the fear monguring?
Northwoods-when I moved from Rumford, Boise Cascade had recently built co-gen to sell power to CMP because there was a growing demand. While I was gone that toxic monstosity was built to make money because theere waa more demand. In 2012 VT Yankee will be decommissioned elliminating a major source of power for NE along with the normal increal in demand. Do we build more toxic coal, oil and gas plants or god forbid nuclear or clean safe wind? Wind construction may not shutdown plants now but it may elliminate the need to build mor{, but how can it with all the NIMBYS?
Blueyes-I have seen first hand which seems to frighten you and the rest of the NIMBYS. Yes I think they are beautiful, just as I think pinwheels hot air balloons, vanGohe's and Picaso's are beautiful. To each his own. If I had the money and lived in the day, I probably would have bought an inefficient first automobile. Yes I would buy a wind turbine put it in my backyard to power my house and sell the extra power. I would feel great about it especially knowing the power I used wasn't killing me through the air I breathed.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.boats
why not have a small wind turbine attached to your car so it is charging batteries while you are moving?
use the extra battery storage later
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Wind Power
If the technology for wind and solar power was advanced enough to replace coal, then they would already be using it exclusively.
We need more hydo and nuclear, we have the technology for these but the environmentalists protest.
Besides, even if we find a way to make wind and solar equipment to power our industry, homes and commerce, we will still need oil to power autos. What? You think you can attach a windmill or a giant solar cell to car?
What about airplanes?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Since Rumford has
it's own power generating plant, and since that plant's valuation has dropped substantially, maybe the citizens of said town ought to demand free or reduced electricity from said power plant and CMP in return for the tax breaks that they get. Even if they don't get any tax breaks, shouldn't our rates be lower anyways just because they are right here in town and the transmission cost is drastically reduced for CMP? Make the transmission rates go up incrementally the further from the source you get. That seem the right thing to do.
The power company on the falls is no longer owned by the mill, which now generates most of its own power through natural gas and steam and as a utility they should be made to come to the bargaining table just like wind generators do. I have friends in the south who have hydroelectric plants close to them who pay a fraction of what we do because the people voted to tax them at a lower rate in exchange for lower electric bills. Of course they don't have a monopoly like CMP to contend with either.
The 3 power plants in Rumford now generate more power than the grid can handle and need to be shut down at times so as not to overload things. If that is the case, why are we paying anything at all for electricity? Transmission costs yes, but electricity, no. I'm beginning to get to the bottom of this wind tower thing in my own roundabout way. Give me time.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond."Old school"
Kinda ironic in a way how this issue has gotten this far to begin with...my simple take on the whole issue is just "old school".Go back to the basics,this isn't for us.Can you really put a price on our pristine mountains?Do you want to sell these mountains for any price ..especailly to the political flatlanders that are already buying up all the land that once was hunted by our relatives.We rely on our resources for revenue...take that away and noone will want anything to do with Maine.As for me I look forward to enjoying the great outdoors without all the high tech gadgets that are trying to pry there way into the backwoods and even our back yards.Not in my backyard please! I enjoy hunting and fishing to much to have to go even farther north... and no...i don,t want to have to look at the glass as half full or half empty...i'd like to look at mine as "full" thank-u....
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.If nonsense was electricity, Ms. Downs, you would be CMP
For someone such as yourself who appear to suffer from an acute case of oral diarrhea and mental constipation, please allow me to offer a simpler explanation which I hope you can understand. The following was published in today's Bangor Daily News as a comment to an article headlined "First Wind Details New Project" by an individual who signs himself as "PaulNotBunyan":
Quote: Now I get it. Somebody offers you a free lunch. You get stuck picking up the tip for both of you. You leave thinking you still got the better deal. You get home and the food poisoning kicks in. Unquote
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.It used to be
Many of us can still remember when Central Maine Power, Bangor Hydro and other smaller Maine utility companies were responsible for both generation and distribution of electricity. The PUC would work with these companies to keep costs to ratepayers within reason. Now, our electric rates are being dictated by generating companies from way beyond our boundaries. Local control to the price of electricity is gone.
The price paid for electricity in Boston and New York will soon be the price we, in Maine, will pay.
Mainers often lament out-of-staters moving into our state and then dictating policy over us.
Soon, a glance at the state's mountaintops will forever remind us ......... There once was a time self reliance and simpler approach to providing our needs was our state's trademark.............. Our proud way of living given up for a quick dollar.........How, the devil did this happen ?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Things to Consider
The Board of Selectmen tell voting citizens they can't speak at their meeting but allowed First Wind's (out of state company) salesman Kiely (out of state) to give a sales pitch to an audience that was told not to speak and listen. That was an arrogant and contemptuous treatment of the citizens.
Inasmuch as Rumford's committee for an ordinance is still at work, First Wind's appearance at this meeting should have been disallowed. This was an obvious move to influence the ordinance. Even more arrogant, Kiely audaciously asked to inform and work with the committee. What gall! Let the energy companies write their own regulations?
When a wind tower permit is granted, then the developer writes a written contract with the town. They use 'Philadelphia' lawyers to do this. These contracts contain "escape clauses." Of course, they don't call them that and the untrained eye wouldn't get it, especially if blinded by greed. These clauses give wide discretion to the developer—profit margins, unseen cost, going broke, etc., that wipe out any or all of the goodies they promises. Rest assured the "escape clauses" will be used in a few years after the front company "First Wind" and its principals cash in and are officially taken over by huge energy companies for carbon credits. Mr. Kiely and Company won't be here to listen to your pleas. They will fall on deaf, corporate ears and the mountains are now destroyed.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Exactly
how the people of Carthage have been treated by their selectmen and by Patriot Renewables. Same strategy. Same evasiveness. You cannot get a straight answer out of a wind company rep. Buyer beware.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.re Candiceanne…"No one can answer you"& "Mrs. Aniel will tell"
Candiceanne, Angus King was born and raised out of state. He came here as an adult.
In reference to your asking Mrs. Aniel what is in the ordinance they are preparing, don't bother because you wouldn't understand it.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.re Ed McCaffrey…"While I agree"
Ed, would the kids be allowed to ride their bikes on the sidewalks or will they also become solar panels?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.No, children should be required
to wear small solar panels on their heads with small battery packs attached to their waists. Of course this would also require that they spend most of their time out doors instead of in front of the TV or computer. Any extra power that the kids collect and that the home doesn't use can be sold back to CMP or to neighbors who don't have children. Side walks should be kept free to put in treadmills for people to use as power generating devices when they go out for walks.
Rumford Native, my statement regarding solar panels was meant seriously. The tops of apartment building and factories, on tops of telephone poles and light fixtures in parking lots. Anyplace where they won't interfere with daily life. And no, that doesn't mean that forests or anything else should be removed to make room for them. There is enough unused space already out there to make it worthwhile.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Good one!
Ed, You win the joke contest hands down. I laughed so much my eyes watered. I don't know about the sidewalk idea, though, it would be hard to reach your destination.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.re candiceanne…"born and raised here"
"We have to stop getting sucked in by these out of staters…" Hmm, let's see, First Wind and Mr. Kiely are not from out of state? And the people of Rumford and Maine who oppose this are? I see, kinda like 'the rooster crows and the sun rises so therefore, if the rooster doesn't crow, the sun won't rise.' I agree with Candiceanne—He or she has been sucked in by our of staters.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.p.s.
The Harraseeket Inn proudly stands behind all the NIMBYs. NOT IN MAINE'S BACK YARD!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.The real cost of wind power
If the best we can do to save the planet is blow up Maine's mountains, we need to get back to the drawing board ASAP. Tourism is Maine's biggest economic engine and will continue to be only as long as we protect Maine's natural beauty. Destroying Maine's iconic mountains and ridgelines is akin to killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Is the sacrifice worth it? We taxpayers should be getting quarterly statements from Mars Hill, Kibby, Stetson wind projects since these are all funded with our tax dollars. Methinks the reason they're being so secretive about the amount of power these turbines are producing is because they have nothing to brag about...
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.More Math against wind power.
More Math against wind power. If you place personal size solar panels in the area needed for one wind turbine you would have 3815 solar panels. With my math I have done you would need 2 wind turbines to produce power for 3 homes. Now if you place personal solar panels in those two areas you would produce enough power for 272 homes. So in the space 2 wind mills could produce enough power for 3 homes, solar can produce power for 272 homes. Kicker 2 turbines =$4million compared 7630 solar panel=$1,907,500. So for same area, for almost 100 times less power, and for over twice the money people want wind turbines. WOW
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.More math against wind power.
More math against wind power. I have said the state should use the money going to wind mills on putting solar panels on homes in Maine. Here is some food for thought. A personal solar panel claims to put out 45 watts per hour. That would be .045 kilowatts per hour (Math: .045x24x7x52 equal 393.12 Annual kilowatts per hour) Knowing normal house hold uses 11,040 annual kilowatt hours you need (Math: 11,040/393.12) which equals slightly over 28 solar panels needed to run a home completely on solar panels. now a personal size solar panel (as I am told) is 3 ft by 5 ft which makes is 15 sq.ft. a new modern trailor may be 72 ft by 15 ft (eyeball guess) which makes it have 1080 sq. ft. of a roof for solar panels (Math 1080/15 =72) meaning you have enough room on a roof to hold enough solar panels to run your house totally green. Now cost a personal solar panel cost about 250 (Math: 28x 250=7000) that is 7000 to have a house completely on solar panels. More math 7000x 518,200(households in Maine) = $3,627,400,000 to have every household in Maine completely green. Now to compare using Gempaint's number of $2 million for turbine and my figure of 316,534 turbines need to have Maine completely on wind power (math 2 million x 316,534=633,068,000,000) is $633,068,000,000. Food for thought for people screaming for green wind power.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.thank you question everything
langoliers are coming. everyday people are being enlightened of the stimulis scam
at a price tag of $2 million a turbine times 1000 turbines proposed in Maine
$2 billion dollars of US taxes go directly overseas; spain, germany, china; where the turbines are made.
all spare parts are required from point of origin (overseas)
what got stimulated?
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Looking for the benefit
I am still on the fence regarding wind power. I am open to the idea, as long as the impact on our community and citizens is minimal. However, I am not seeing a benefit to the town in this proposal a this time. They want to come to town, promising to raise our valuation by $65,000,000 which will increase our share of the school budget and perhaps other formulas. It will adversely affect the benefit the "sudden and severe" status we have with the state, which has cushioned the blow from the valuation drop this past year. The TIF will remove much of the tax revenue from the project. And, when the TIF expires, the life and valuation of the towers will be gone. There is no mention of lower electricity costs, nor plans to decommission the towers. The only benefit I can see at this point is the $50,000 in community contributions, which would likely get directed to Black Mountain. I truly want to see the benefit in this project beyond the $50,000, and I would like to see an financial impact analysis before having to vote on this issue.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.how much of Maine
Ok I have figured out how much of Maine that would be destroyed if Maine went totally to wind power. A wind mill with a 100 foot diameter work at 100% with a constint wind speed of 5 MPH (that is every second of every day for a year) would annually produce 16600 KWHs. The US in 2008 average household used 11040 KWHs annually. In 2000 there was 518200 households in the state of Maine. So to create enough power in the state of Maine we would need 316,534 windmills. Ok now the big numbers. A wind turbine needs at least 57,226.5 sq. ft. of surface area which if you times that by how many wind turbines are needed 18,114,132,951 sq.ft. of Maine is needed. Mind you that Maine has 986,532,940,800 sq.ft. in it (the maine figure is Maine totally it includes cities, town, homes, lakes, pond, rivers, road, etc). Now just sit back and think about that.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Nice Work
Good job blueyes1119!!! Traci Dee to say the least is bipolar and has a real bad history of misinterpreting the truth and distorting the facts and the only place she hikes to is the drug store for her meds. I think she needs another hike!! love ya!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (1) Disagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Candiceanne
Candiceanne, you are obviously under the spell of wind turbines--a veritible wind zombie! You should do actual research before you spout off your diatribes because you woefully show ignorance of science in your zeal to promote wind turbines. Wind turbines are destructive industrial machines. They are not beautiful, graceful to many people. The physics behind wind turbines defy your characterization of "radical improvements at ann amazing rate". Moreover, it is the unpredictable, unreliable, finicky wind that keeps the best sited utility grade turbines producing, at best, 30% of nameplate capacity. I ask evereyone, not just Candiceanne, would you invest in any expensive contarption that performed at less than a third of what it could? Angus King is not a principle in First Wind. He is, however, the principle in the now-stalled (because he doesn't have financing) Record Hill Wind project in Roxbury, a project he started work on without all the permits clearly in hand. That is how arrogantly zealous he is to get to feed like a pig at the tax subsidy trough. First Wind is backed by two hedge funds that are politicalyy connected and headed up by Paul Gaynor, a former Enron exec. That should tell you something right there. Even with that backing, it is always teetering on bankruptcy and they are desperately looking for towns that will roll over and let them in because once they put up a turbine, whether it produces electricity or not (as in Stetson II) they can at least sell forward their RECs and make money. They are scamsters extraordinaire! As far as them whining about not knowing the contents of the wind ordinance being worked on, they have no right. The day they share any of their data is the day they can ask the town for a sneak peak at the ordinance. Pigs will fly first before First Wind ever discloses any information. Of course, if pigs could fly, they would likely be clobbered, along with raptors and migratory birds and bats, by those gracefull turbine blades you love so much. Regarding the moratorium, it is the town's prerogative to enact a measure that is simply a "time out" to enable it to handle its own issue rather than be rushed into allowing something without thinking through how it affects the town. A sprawling industrial wind site hovering over your town is a serious impact on the natural resources and the people. It requires a thoughtful process, not kow towing to the demands of out of state scamsters.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedAgree (1) Disagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Perhaps Mrs Aniel will tell
Perhaps Mrs Aniel will tell us what is in this ordianance since the newspapers have printed nothinng of its content and every inquiry I have made has been met with stony silence. I am more concerned with what the committee is so anxious to hide than what First Wind cannot tell because the committee has them in the dark as well. So Mrs. Aniel, just what is in this ordinance your committee is preparing to spring on voters at the polls.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.No one can answer your
No one can answer your questions under the current moratorium and with the terms of the yet to be proposed to the voters ordianance being kept a complete secret. In addition turbines are undergoing radical improvements at ann amazing rate. A few months ago turbines were just about all lonng blade, now there are jet engine finned versions that do not have the long arms. I personally like the looks of the long armed ones going around and always have but that isn't what is importand, function is. With the rapid advancemennts I am pleased that First Wind is open to adjust their plans. Also, isn't the former governor of Maine Angus King a principle of First Wind? That to me would make this very much a Maine concern. I would also like to addres the concern about cutting trees along the ridgeline. I have hiked a lot in this area and above a certain elivation is nothing but brush and scrub pine, certainly nothing worth worrying over cutting. Clearing thisthis would also give hikers a better view.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Keep Maine beautiful!
When you wear emotions on your sleeve, you become susceptible to scams such as the “Go Green” environmental movement. Yes we have to be more cautious of our environment and eco system. However cutting huge swaths of our forest, destroying mountain tops, and praying pesticides to gain a little power is not realistic it’s criminal. So waving your green flag and supporting this environmental nightmare not only makes you hypocritical it makes you liable to the destruction of the natural beauty of Maine. If killing birds and other wildlife and producing sound and sight pollution is your idea of being green you really need to take a step back do the research and realize this is nothing but a scam. Go destroy another state and keep Maine beautiful!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.TIF's mean no tax relief!
A sixty-five million increase in Rumford’s tax base is very misleading if the town is going to TIF the project. A TIF means you can’t tax that $65,000,000. A TIF also guarantees that the residents of Rumford will not see their taxes go down because of the wind project…not one dime!
The residents of Rumford are also probably not aware that the other towns in their school district (I assume they're in a district/union) could get together and vote to "not honor" Rumford’s TIF with the wind company. As you are probably aware, a TIF cheats these other towns out of a share of the taxes Rumford would have paid the school district had the project not been TIF’d.
In Jackson, where I live, there was a movement in the other towns in our district (SAD 3) to do just that if we put in turbines and TIF'd the project. Even our selectmen, who were very pro wind, didn't want a TIF for that very reason. In the end, Jackson voted for a “thirteen times turbine height setback” (with mitigation waivers) and has seen no further action by CES (the developers of Freedom’s three turbine project) and who are somehow associated with Patriot Renewables.
If that happened to Rumford, they would be liable for the several hundred thousand dollars their town should have paid the school district each year. Do you suppose the wind company would let them out of their TIF contract? I doubt it. If Rumford couldn’t get out of the TIF, their millrate would skyrocket and stay there for the length of the TIF, normally twenty-two years or more.
TIF's are figured by multiplying the town's present mill rate by the total value of the project. The resulting figure is near what the wind company would have to pay under "regular" taxation. Of course, under “regular” taxation most of that money would be gobbled up by the county and the school system, but a little is left for tax relief in the town, but not much. In Jackson, a ten turbine project would have reduced the taxes on a $150,000 property about $140. per year The State’s Municipal Revenue Division would probably be able to tell Rumford how much tax relief twelve turbines would mean to the tax payers in Rumford, if they didn’t TIF the project
If Rumford decides to go for the TIF, then the negotiations begin with the wind company's lawyers. Eaton Peabody has done all of First Wind’s TIF’s and are very experienced. Most are negotiated so that the town gets 40% of the TIF money and the wind company keeps 60%. Lincoln and Burlington managed to negotiate a 50-50 split. Vinalhaven got 10% and the “for profit” part of Fox Islands Winds kept 90%. All of the wind projects so far in Maine have been TIF'd, except for Freedom's.
TIF's save the wind companies millions in tax dollars over the life of the project. I don’t know what the millrate is in Rumford, but if it was .0200 and project was worth $65,000,000, and the wind company got to put 60% of that figure back in their pocket each year, then the wind company would save about $13,000,000. in the twenty-two year life span of a traditional TIF. Of course the turbines are depreciated as personal property 2% per year, so the town’s share decreases a little every year. It’s no wonder wind companies love TIF’s!
Rumford’s share would have to be spent on “economic development” projects within the TIF district. They couldn’t spend it on a new community center, new town hall, swimming pool, or ball field. Most towns just reconstruct a few miles of road (within the TIF district, of course) at $250,000 per mile and leave it at that. If they can prove to the state that the addition of turbines have caused the need for a new dump truck, fire engine, etc., they might be able to get that purchase approved. A small portion of the TIF proceeds may be used for community wide projects and most towns use this money for granting some scholarships. Of course they always have to set aside a goodly sum to administer and pay the legal fees associated with the TIF.
Towns seem to jump on the TIF's every time, even though a TIF guarantees absolutely no reduction in their taxes. If I lived in Rumford, I’d be looking at everything very, very carefully. And if I lived in one of the other towns in the school district, I’d be watching Rumford very, very carefully too.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.First Wind destroyed Mars Hill
What about the mistakes made at Mars Hill? The families living next to the turbines can't sleep at night and many have gone on meds for the first time in their lives. The mountain was demolished needlessly and the whole town hums now from the turbines. These companies do not care about the negative impacts of their projects and still refuse to sit these turbines in a responsible manner. They only want the stimulus money, which is not being used to stimulate anything but higher electric rate for those living close to the turbines. Oh yeah, don't forget about the massive power lines that will have to be built to ship this electricity out of state so 5000 sq. ft. empty mansions can be air conditioned.
http://www.wind-watch.org/documents/mars-hill-residents-suit-against-fir...
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Big Wind ARE terrorists
What's the difference between the guantanamo terrorists and the big Wind companies. Neither one cares one bit about who they will hurt. Wind has just found a way to do it legally
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Terrorists provide a great TIF for Rumford too!
To the town fathers of Rumford/Roxbury who say that the money is the over-riding consideration, I say this: The government is looking for communities who want to build a prison for foreign terrorists. There will be jobs created and tax reductions to local citizens. Are they planning on applying for that next?
If not, then why not?
Rumford would get an amazing TIF from Obama for the cells there.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Ask Larry Summers for the loan!
Firstwind, First Lies. Big Lies!
Rumford , DE SHAW is in your back yard. Drive them from the land!
Lock arms and protest, or be scammed to death!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.My ancestors came with the
My ancestors came with the Mayflower.
That arguement just doesn't hold water.
The wind companys do not care anything about how long anyone has been here as long as they can control our state resources and pick our pockets.
Our electric rates will double.
Wildlife will flee.
Mountain tops will hold the skeletons long after the company has fled the state.
You don't have to be a native to understand the folly in that. And if long time Mainers won't stand up for our state and our deep roots, at least the transplants will.
Thanks for all the hard work that is being done to educate everyone on the biggest rape in Maine's history.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Kudos AwardedDisagree (1)
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.money for turbines
The money goes directly to First Wind to build the turbines.
Read the paperwork. That's why they want to "partner" with the town.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.protection of citizens versus greed
The wind committee of Rumford has worked hard and done its homework to protect its citizens with a well researched wind turbine ordinance that will be presented to the voters in November.
Not surprisingly, as soon as First Wind realized the thoroughness of that ordinance , they sent a letter expressing their displeasure that such an ordinance may restrict their ability to place their turbines close to people's homes, or ask them to set aside money in advance to remove the turbines. Poor cry babies! As the science of understanding why turbine noise is affecting some people seriously evolves and is certain to become a serious medical-legal battle, the wind industry is trying to rush projects as fast as they can. It is indeed a battle between greed and science.
However, the medical warnings have been made and documented. Rumford Hospital staff issued a call for a moratorium last February.
Anyone who willfully imposes , after being properly and duly warned, health effects on people with a product of their making, will be submitted to the consequences of their action and the same will apply to those who let it happen. The Maine Supreme Court recently decided that a DEP permit does not prevent a developer from being sued in a nuisance action if the operation of their project is harmful or offensive to residents.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.While I agree
that wind turbines do cause problems for some people, and only some people, you fail to mention the harm caused by coal and oil fired power plants to ALL people. you also don't mention the horrible effects that hydro electric plants have on migratory fish species, not only from blocking their routes but from the leeching of industrial lubricants into the water. All of you who are complaining about the wrecked view and the devastated landscape fail to come up with a solution that gets us away from our dependence on fossil fuels. Any little bit that reduces our need to rip giant holes in the earth to satisfy our energy needs helps.
It's really amazing what people can get used to if they have to put up with it for long enough. I live right in the center of Rumford and the only thing that still bothers me is the Mill letting off steam. I've even gotten used to the big trucks and Harleys going by my house. I think that most people would not even notice the wind towers after 6 months or so and the birds, bats, and bees that it might interfere with would eventually find a flight path that took them around the towers.
You're one of those people that ignores the penny that you see lying on the ground because you don't think it's worth bending over to pick up, all the while forgetting that eventually they add up to dollars. Until you have a viable alternative that will actually work, here, now, in Maine, stop complaining and start reaching down for those pennies that the wind towers provide. And as for your complaint that most of the power generated by the towers would go out of state, So What!!! If we, or anyone else is producing something that makes this country as a whole less dependent on what is currently killing us, then that's a good thing. The whole idea is to make the country less dependent, not just us. And as far as the environment goes, and the views, the wind towers, in my humble opinion are majestic and nice to look at and if the forest can survive the clear cutting done by the paper mills it will sure as heck survive this. Get off of your high horse and quit preaching.
I'd like to see another Nuke plant built here as well, and solar arrays spread over every acre of open, non farm-able land. Every home should have them on the roof too ( solar panels, that is). How about geothermal energy? Make it mandatory for every new home built, subsidize it even . Small land plots can have vertical set ups and large plots can have horizontal ones. Mandatory solar panels on all new homes too. Put that in instead of the pool and the granite counter tops.
There are ways to save besides the towers, yes, but all journeys begin with a first step. Let's not be afraid to take this one.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.somewhat agreed
Ed I read your whole post and agreed with a small part at the end. I think that the state should offer to pay the cost to put solar panels on each house that wants them. Think about it if the money given to the wind mills was instead given to home owner for new solar panels with tthe intent that the home owner pays atleast some if not all back. I know lots of people that would go for that, we would actually reduce the use of fussil fuels, would not destroy mountains, would save people of Maine money, and really wouldn't spend anymore taxpayers money. But that won't happen because the people that want the wind mills only care about the money to be made.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I was born and raised here,
I was born and raised here, seventh generation Mainer, moved away when I was 36 for the sake of my kids and csme back to help my home town I was always told Maine people were known for their worj ethic and their conmon sense so I am putting the "no" to wind turbine stupidity to out of staters who have no comnon sense. How do you expect First Wind or any business to come to you with any hard numbers when you have tied their hands with moritoriums and in the works ordinances so they can not plan their project because they do not know what you will allow? Of course tax money is going into this. Tax money that has been being collected from big gas, oil, and coal for years to fund alternative energy development that people like me have bee. saying all along was coming from us passed along by the Bigs but you did not see it that way until--the wind turbines reached the development stage to be built and go in your backyard. Amazing how that works. Might I remind my fine fellow Maine Natives these are the same out of state folks that pushed for how many years, had us vote how many times to close Maine Yankee because there was and continues to be no way to dispose of the waste. Now they are back pushing nuclear, why? Because by the time a site in Maine could be located, approved, all the hoops jumped through, designs, etc they will be dead or figure you will have forgotten how they started it and fight it. Again they or their children will be saying NIMBY! Me, I like wind turbines, I have seen them, not heard them even standing under them running and I like them. I have ceiling fans with more flicker (in the next room hehe). We have to stop getting sucked in by these out of staters. As for First Wind participating in distributing the 50k great. It will keep them directly involved with the community.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Candiceanne I don't want to
Candiceanne I don't want to pick a fight but I was born and raised in Maine as well. I say NO to wind power everyday. You talk about green energy (people that say yes to wind mills) but how green is it. I have not heard of any fossil fuel factories being closed down bacause of wind farms. These wind farms are going to cut every tree on top of a mountain down and then blow the top of the mountain up. Also they will not allow a tree to grow while the wind farm is funtional so 20 + years. Thats great for the environment, not. So how will the wind farms save the environment, I guess if we had enough of them we could get off fossil fuel. But how many do we need. Candice I would like to ask you for some simple figures (you seem to know about the wind mills and may have the info on hand). First how many kilowatts do a wind turbine produce a year (the figures from the companies will be fine for my theory) then how many kilowatts per year does a Maine house hold use. Then how many square feet does a turbine need at its base so it can work. And finally how many square feet is Maine (I hope you see where I am going with this). If you could produce the first three I can find the last number.
Also thought to your post during a moritorium is the perfect time for a company to produce hard facts and figures so that the people can see what good if any will come from a wind farm. The fact that they don't speaks volumes to me.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Who are the out-of-staters?
First Wind is also from out-of-state. You don't seem to get that they are the interlopers. They don't live here, don't vacation here, and they are 100% money-motivated. They don't care what you or anyone else feels after they do their business and leave. They don't care about what's green or what isn't. And you're right. Often, you cannot hear the turbines when you are directly beneath them. The sound doesn't travel that way. It travels OUT. The noise issues are real, however. It bothers some more than others, but there's no way to know in advance who will be hurt the most. If you live in town and feel you will not be bothered by the noise, then you are simply throwing your neighbors who will be bothered under a bus.
I moved here when I was 36 for the sake of my child. Quite the opposite from you, I guess. I thought growing up in a quiet, scenic place with loads of outdoor recreational opportunities, small schools with teachers you really get to know, and good people (mostly) was a good thing. Now I find out that all anyone cares about here is whether or not they get their roads paved in a timely manner and whether or not they get their government hand-out (which is all this is, really). I assumed people who were born and raised here, along with the people who chose to live here for the quiet and beauty, would lay down their lives to protect it. Boy, was I wrong. Maybe I will follow your lead, candiceanne, and leave for the sake of my child. I am sure as heck not going to take money from a wind company while I watch them rape the mountains I love.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Come on!
"Selectmen then discussed among themselves where they are at in the ordinance development process. After which, Kiely asked that First Wind be allowed to help in the process by providing information and feedback."
I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.It would go
to subsidize their tax write off silly!!! You don't think that a big corporation like that would just give money away without some benefit to themselves do you???
All Rumford gets is the illusory $65 million tax base benefit that will not even offset the continued devaluation in the paper mill and the power company. Our taxes will still go up even if they do build here.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond."Kiely also said First Wind
"Kiely also said First Wind would provide an annual community fund benefit to Rumford per state law of $50,000. He said the town and First Wind would work together to determine how that money would be spent."
Why would First Wind get any say in where the money goes.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Take 1/2 of that 50k and
Take 1/2 of that 50k and bring the fireworks back to Rumford!
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.m, you'd be an excellent candidate for the State legislature
because you'd work well with the knuckleheads in Augusta who're responsible for the current $100 million budget gap because they also spent money that they didn't have.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.What is "green " now
Whatever happened to the message that wind machine energy conversion is our great “ green “ hope to planet survival ? Now, all you hear from proponents is the “ green “ being dangled before the money-hungry select boards throughout Maine. Money that ultimately comes out of the pockets of every taxpayer and ratepayer. We are all forced investors in this ill-conceived plan, but we all won’t see returns to this investment. First Wind is telling select boards , by accepting our proposal , you become entitled to receive money the government has acquired through the taxation of all of us , but, of course, this money is first delivered to First Wind whose profit margin is of first priority. Don’t believe the figures they are presenting. Nothing is in writing.
- Permalink
- Is this comment inappropriate?
Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.