FARMINGTON – Franklin County commissioners heard area residents voice concerns about a wind power plant proposed for Redington Pond Range and Black Nubble Mountain at their meeting Tuesday.

Dain and Vera Trafton of Phillips, Basil Powers of Stratton and Mary Lou Melber of Kingfield each voiced opposition to project. Though an application has not been filed with the Land Use Regulation Commission, the citizens have collected more than 1,800 signatures on petitions opposing the plan.

Dain Trafton said many environmental groups, while supporting renewable energy, are against this project. Among those opposed, Trafton said, is the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

He called the project inefficient and a “tax scam,” referring to a bill that provides subsidies to developers who build projects that are a source of renewable energy.

Wind power is unreliable, will reduce energy emissions by less than 1 percent and wind mills would completely cover 2.7 miles of mountain top wilderness, he said. He suggested that the tax dollars would be more wisely used to help International Paper in Jay or the Cousins Island power plant to clean up their emissions.

Stratton’s Powers echoed Trafton’s sentiments. “It all comes down to the buck,” he said. “They want government money,” referring to the developers.

Commissioner Gary McGrane questioned whether the Traftons and the others would fight as vehemently against a wind power plant in another area of Maine.

Trafton admitted that while he is against wind power in general, he would not be “carrying a placard” protesting the proposal if it were planned for South Portland. But, he said, “When anything is ill-advised in our own area, it is our responsibility to fight it.”

Though commissioners could not render an opinion on the subject, McGrane commended the group for their efforts and Commissioner Meldon Gilmore said that all the calls he has received regarding the project were against it.

Ray Corey, Richard Barr and Roger Perry, representing the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, made a presentation to the commission. With the aid of architectural drawings, the group showed commissioners the feasibility of moving the extension from the UMF campus to the Fairbanks Meeting House site under construction on Fairbanks Road. The new space would provide more office space and a large communal meeting room where classes could be held. Another benefit will be a kitchen large enough for cooking and canning classes currently held in the town hall basement. Commissioners favored the move though no vote was taken since the plan is still in negotiations.

Sheriff Dennis Pike brought several new hires to the commission.

Elaine Fitch of Jay was unanimously approved for the position of secretary for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department as was Stanley Wheeler of Farmington as a reserve dispatcher. Two candidates were also approved as reserve law officers with the department – John Bonnell, a retired Border Patrol officer from Stratton and Richard Billian of Chesterville.

Tim Hardy, director of the Emergency Medical Agency, updated commissioners on his budget, which includes a new dispatch console costing $79,851 to be paid from a Homeland Security grant. More upgrades on public safety communications are expected.

Debra Richards of EMA reported on the E-911 mapping project, which is not expected to be completed for another year but is well under way.

jhausen@sunjournal.com

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