AUGUSTA – Franklin County residents traveled a long way Monday to listen to state land use regulators deliberate over two wind farm proposals for Western Maine.

Several packed a lunch and stayed for both sessions despite the heavy snow falling outside St. Paul Center.

“We’re rejoicing so far. We don’t like the idea of power going out of state at the expense of our mountains,” Duluth Wing of Eustis said after the first vote to not recommend the Black Nubble Mountain project in Redington Township northeast of Rangeley. “It looks like only a matter of money because of tax incentives and green credits and people of Maine are going to lose the beautiful mountains.”

A neighbor of his, plus several others from the county, sat quietly in rows as they listened to commissioners.

“This first vote shows the commissioners are aware of the rules that govern them and it was a decision that met criteria of the rules and regulations,” Emerson Dyer of Eustis said.

On the other hand, Alison Hagerstrom, executive director of Greater Franklin Development Corp., an economic development agency based in Farmington, was disappointed with the vote.

“We have been working very long and hard with Maine Mountain Power, with Harley, on this project,” Hagerstrom said. “The disappointment for us was the economic piece of creating good paying jobs.”

Both Black Nubble and Kibby Mountain projects, the latter about 25 miles north in Kibby Township, promised 200 jobs during construction and five to 10 permanent jobs after the wind farms are built.

Franklin County Commissioner Fred Hardy and his wife, Ruby, of New Sharon also watched the proceedings.

“I’ve been in favor of this all along,” Hardy said of Black Nubble and wind power as an alternative energy source. “We’ve got to do it. I supposed it doesn’t have to be done in Franklin County but we’ve got the space up there and apparently got the wind. It just makes sense about creating alternative energy.”

After lunch and LURC’s next vote recommending the Kibby Mountain wind farm, the same people offered their views.

“Well it’s the lesser of the two evils,” Wing said. “We hope it’s the right decision.”

Dyer wasn’t so sure.

“I think they possibly ignored some of their own regulations and concerns. The slopes, soils and ridgelines are quite similar to the previous one,” he said.

Hagerstrom was happy, though.

“We’re pleased because this will provide five to 10 good-paying jobs and speaks to the sustainability of the area and creating wind energy as an alternative energy source,” she said.

Hardy was just as pleased.

“It makes sense as far as I’m concerned, and maybe it is the beginning of several more,” he said.

Dave Wilby, director of Independent Energy, said it was a great outcome for TransCanada project and a missed opportunity on Maine Mountain Power’s project.

“It’s an opportunity lost for the state of Maine,” Wilby said. “It’s both a loss of energy and a loss in economic opportunity.”