Move would bypass LURC, allow for DEP approval

CARRABASSETT VALLEY – A Yarmouth wind-energy company wants the town of Carrabassett Valley to annex the upper portion of Redington Township to pave the way for a wind farm.

Harley Lee, president of Endless Energy Corp., broached the idea to selectmen and will bring a concept plan touting benefits of the wind farm to the board in the future.

“We are looking at it to do a community-based wind project,” Lee said Tuesday.

It would be the same $180 million, 30-wind turbine project that the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission informally rejected in 2007, though LURC staff had recommended it be approved. A downsized project consisting of 18 wind turbines on Redington Pond Range was rejected by LURC in a 4-2 vote in January. Panel members cited the turbines’ effect on views from the Appalachian Trail and the impact on natural resources and wildlife – contradicting information in the application – and financial and technical capabilities.

Town officials put an announcement of Lee’s concept on the town’s Web site (www.carrabassettvalley.org) to keep people informed of what’s going on, Town Manager Dave Cota said Tuesday.

Endless Energy is looking at ways to maximize wind power benefits to communities in Maine and Vermont, Lee said.

His idea is to ask the Maine Legislature to approve Carrabassett Valley’s annexation of the portion of Redington Township that is home to Redington Pond Range and Black Nubble Mountain. The mountains are owned by Redington Mountain Wind LLC, which consists of a group of investors, mostly from Maine, Lee said.

“We’ve begun to have presentations and the next step is formal presentations,” he said.

Lee said it was frustrating to have the northern Franklin County project rejected.

“We had 9-to-1 public support, two (Maine Department of Environmental Protection) permits and an Army Corps of Engineers permit and approval from Carrabassett Valley for power lines,” Lee said.

A state wind-energy task force identified flaws in the permitting process for wind power this year, he said. With the latest proposal, if it moves forward, the project would be considered under the new wind-energy rules. Two state DEP permits and approval from Carrabassett Valley voters would be required.

A big difference in the new power rules, Lee said, is that DEP staff and the commissioner would make the decision, rather than the LURC board.

With annexation, Endless Energy would propose that the town and area ratepayers get the wind energy produced on the Redington mountains at a reduced cost. The Sugarloaf/USA ski resort could be one of the businesses that benefited.

Another benefit would be the tax revenue the project would generate for Carrabassett Valley, Lee said.

Selectmen will not make recommendations on the merits or faults of the proposal, Cota said. Due to the potential benefits to the community and surrounding area, it should be brought before townspeople for further discussion, he said.

Procedurally, annexation of Redington Township by the town would require a favorable vote of the state Legislature followed by a vote of Carrabassett Valley residents, Cota said.

Franklin County’s first commercial wind-energy project is already under way. TransCanada has received LURC permission and other permits to build a $350 million, 44-turbine power project in Kibby and Skinner townships in January.