The American Lung Association of Maine was very pleased that the Land Use Regulation Commission’s staff is supportive of the Redington Wind Project. This project was certainly not without controversy and strong feelings both in support and opposed. We were the only statewide public health organization to speak in favor of this project at last August’s hearing.

While we are not insensitive to the project’s opponents, it remains our position that developing healthy, renewable power is a top priority for this state. Not only will the cost of fossil fuel continue to rise, but the pollution that results from burning oil and coal continues to impact our air from Kittery to the Carrabassett Valley. The more we learn about ozone and particulate pollution, the more dangerous is its impact on health.

We hope that the staff opinion is upheld by the commission and that this ruling will encourage others to invest in other projects in the limited areas where commercially viable initiatives can be located. Since these areas are along the coast and in the western mountains, future projects are likely to be at least as controversial as Redington. It is critical that all future proposals undergo public scrutiny in a fair, open and timely process.

Norman Anderson, environmental health scientist

American Lung Association of Maine, Augusta