The Sun Journal was correct in calling it Maine’s most efficient wind power project

A recent Sun Journal editorial said that Maine Mountain Power’s Black Nubble project was “perhaps, acre-for-acre and turbine-for-turbine, the most efficient in Maine.”

The newspaper is correct; here is the data to back up this statement:

The combined Redington/Black Nubble project covered 307 acres, with 30 turbines, would have generated 260 million kilowatt hours per-year and served 128 homes per-acre. The Black Nubble proposal alone was 233 acres, with 18 turbines, generating 142 million kWh/year and served 92 homes per-acre.

Now compare this to Stetson (933 acres, 38 turbines, 164 million kWh/year and 27 homes served per-acre) and Kibby (928 acres, 44 turbines, 357 million kWh/year and 58 homes served per-acre).

The Maine Land Use Regulation Commission made the right decision in its recent approval of the Stetson wind farm. For every acre of total disturbance by this wind farm and its power line, this project will produce enough power for 27 homes. That’s a good use of the Maine land that LURC governs. Imagine trying to grow enough food or firewood for 27 families on one acre of land.

The reasons that the Redington/Black Nubble project would produce so much energy per acre are because the project would use more powerful three megawatt turbines instead of the 1.5 megawatt turbines used at Stetson, the sites are a mere seven miles from the existing grid versus 38 miles for Stetson, and the winds are stronger.

The Redington/Black Nubble project also enjoys unusually strong public support. Local residents, skiers, hunters, hikers, and snowmobilers strongly support the project. If there had been an election, it would have been approved by more than a landslide; the results would have been considered an avalanche.

A statewide poll showed 9-to-1 support for the project, with the strongest support coming from dues-paying members of environmental organizations. It’s strange that one major Maine group opposed the first two wind farms proposed in Maine, despite their members’ support. It is also unfortunate that some people involved with the Appalachian Trail choose to ignore hikers’ opinons. Our hiker survey was designed with the trail groups so that no one would question the questions. One LURC commissioner was apparently not aware of this. We even had it done twice to be absolutely certain of the results!

With oil, gas and, therefore, electricity prices at painfully high levels; with the news on the climate change front only getting more dire and more certain; and with our young people in the military at risk in the Persian Gulf, what are we to do? Mainers say we should get more of our energy from those cold harsh winds howling over our mountains.

At the Sugarloaf and Saddleback resorts, there is 1,800 acres of total developed land. Putting a 300-acre wind farm halfway between Maine’s two highest resorts seems like the perfect place for this type of project.

The Redington project has already received two Maine Department of Environmental Protection permits, a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, local Carrabassett Valley approval for the power line, and even received a recommendation for approval from LURC staff. It is unfortunate the commissioners overruled their own staff.

I also agree with the Sun Journal that the governor’s wind energy task force needs to bring more rationality to the wind farm permitting process.

Harley Lee is president and founder of Endless Energy Corp. of Yarmouth, a partner in Maine Mountain Power. On Jan. 14, LURC voted to reject the company’s Black Nubble Mountain wind power project.