AUGUSTA – State land use regulators voted Monday not to recommend a wind turbine project on Black Nubble Mountain because of its visual and environmental impact, but did recommend a larger one about 25 miles north, also in Franklin County.

The decisions by the Land Use Regulation Commission followed separate sessions at the St. Paul Center.

Commissioners voted 4-2 to have staff prepare a recommendation to deny Maine Mountain Power LLC’s 18-turbine, 54-megawatt proposal on Black Nubble Mountain in Redington Township. They cited concerns over the impact on scenery, natural resources and wildlife, contradicting information in the application, and financial and technical capabilities.

Called one of Maine’s “premier” mountains, Black Nubble stands at 3,670 feet.

Voting against the project were Rebecca Kurtz of Rangeley Plantation, Gwen Hilton of Madison, Chairman E. Bart Harvey III of Millinockett and Ed Laverty of Medford. Those for it were Steve Schaefer of Grand Lake Stream and James Nadeau of Winterville Plantation.

“I’m wondering if we have lost sight of this mountain sitting in view of a national scenic trail,” Kurtz said, referring to the Appalachian Trail.

The wind mills stand 410 feet tall.

She made the motion to deny recommending the project, which included rezoning 487 acres.

“I’m really disappointed,” said Harley Lee, president of Endless Energy Corp. of Yarmouth, a partner in Maine Mountain Power with Edison Mission of California.

The project has taken an incredible amount of work, he said, and had approval from Carrabassett Valley for transmission lines, plus three permits and public support. Its cost is estimated at $130 million.

Commissioner Stephen Wight of Newry recused himself from the Black Nubble proceeding but came to the table for deliberation on TransCanada’s Maine Wind Development Inc.’s application for the Kibby Mountain wind project.

Commissioners unanimously voted to have staff draft a recommendation for approval of TransCanada’s 44-turbine, 132-megawatt project in Kibby and Skinner townships, about 25 miles north of Redington Township. It would rezone 2,367 acres in two parcels and have 34 turbines above 2,700 feet and 12 below. Seventeen to 19 turbines are planned for 3,286-foot Kibby Mountain, and the rest on the horseshoe-shaped Kibby Ridge.

That project is estimated to cost $270 million.

A couple of commissioners said said the visual impact on that project did not rise to the same level as on Black Nubble.

Commissioners praised TransCanada’s application for its detail, saying it set standards they would like to have other developers follow. One commissioner also said he liked TransCanada’s treatment of community, including offering $132,000, or $1,000 per megawatt of power produced annually, to Eustis, the nearest organized municipality.

TransCanada Project Manager Nick Di domenico said developers were obviously pleased with the vote and that their application was considered a model to follow.

LURC Director Catherine Carroll said she expects the staff’s recommendations for both projects to be ready by spring.