Panelists present one side of wind farm question

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Eileen M. Adams/Sun Journal

Mike Breau, left, collects signatures and hands out information on a petition calling for a special town meeting to act on passing a moratorium on the development of wind farms in the corridor of Mountain Valley High School Tuesday night prior to a panel discussion on the energy producer.

RUMFORD — Questions ranging from how installing wind turbines might affect tourism and wildlife, to beliefs that such devices could cause physical and mental illnesses were put forth by some of the members of a panel Tuesday night that explored the possible ramifications of building a wind farm atop three local mountains.

Conspicuously absent were representatives from First Wind LLC, the Newton, Mass., company that is tentatively planning a 40-megawatt project along the ridgeline of Black, North Twin and South Twin mountains.

Town Manager Carlo Puiia said he learned at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday that the company's first official presentation of its plan at the forum, hosted by the Wind Farm Development Committee, would not take place. He later said that First Wind didn't believe the panel would be balanced.

Attempts to contact First Wind were unsuccessful early Tuesday night.

Puiia said the company will instead make its first presentation at a selectmen's meeting sometime before the end of the year.

In the meantime, signatures are being gathered on a petition calling for a moratorium on wind development until an ordinance can be written. Mike Breau was gathering some of those signatures in the corridor of Muskie Auditorium Tuesday night. In the few weeks that the petition has been circulating, more than half the 500 signatures needed to force a special town meeting to act on a moratorium had been collected.

Selectmen had turned down a request last month to call for a moratorium.

Puiia said a town meeting will likely be called to act on a six-month moratorium. Also, a special committee would be formed to draw up an ordinance that would govern the development of a wind farm, with possible action on the regulations to take place at next June's annual town meeting.

Anne Morin, serving as moderator of the forum, said Tuesday's session was the first of several the Wind Farm Development Committee hopes to hold.

"This is not a debate, but the facts from a diverse group of people. Listen to the facts and make your own opinion," she said.

Among the panelists was Lisa Linowes, a New Hampshire resident who is director of Industrial Wind Action Group, who said Maine already produces about twice the needed electricity. She said wind turbines generally produce the most power at night rather than in the afternoon when most power is needed.

J. Dwight, a member of the Maine Heritage Center, said jobs would be lost rather than gained, and the cost for electricity would increase with the use of wind power.

He also said carbon dioxide would not be reduced, as state advocates have said.

"This is a bad policy for this area, state and country. First Wind is a bankrupt company backed by two hedge funds," he said.

Dr. Albert Aniel, a local physician, said medical studies have shown that the Mars Hill wind farm, also built by First Wind, has resulted in a variety of illnesses ranging from sleep disturbances, headaches and dizziness to feelings of anger and hopelessness for people living near the facility.

Tom Powell, a Dixfield resident who is also involved in that town's consideration of a possible wind farm project, told the 100 or so people in attendance to forget about new jobs and tax relief.

"I consider wind power a fad. They'll (the turbines) all end up in a junkyard. This is ridiculous. If this was a great idea, where are the big guys?"

Steve Thurston, an activist against the Roxbury wind power project and a contractor in Vermont, suggested that federal and state money designated for the development of wind farms be redirected to making homes more energy efficient.

"About 360 miles of Maine ridges with turbines would produce only 4.5 percent of the energy needs for the electric grid," he said.

Selectmen Chairman Brad Adley said late during the session that he thought the panel was a little unbiased.

"It served as a kickoff," he said.

eadams@sunjournal.com