CARRABASSETT VALLEY – A proposal to create a community-based wind farm on approximately 10,000 acres in the upper half of Redington Township will come before the Board of Selectmen on Monday at the Outdoor Center. The session will begin at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 5 and residents are welcome, but it is not a public hearing.

Endless Energy Corp. of Yarmouth is proposing the town annex the property to support a $180 million, 90-plus megawatt wind power project, Sugarloaf Community Wind Farm, on Redington and Black Nubble mountains. Under the proposal, customers would provide the capital for the project and benefit from lower energy costs, as stated in the company’s proposal listed on the town’s Web site.

Benefits cited are at least 50 percent savings in energy costs, $144 million added to the town’s tax base and clean power to run the town.

A similar project was denied by the Land Use Regulation Commission in 2007, but the difference is that this project proposes a community-based wind farm.

Representatives from Endless Energy will present a plan of potential benefits to the board Monday. Energy or power cost savings are expected for Sugarloaf and Sunday River ski resorts as well as town and area ratepayers. Substantial property tax reductions for Carrabassett Valley taxpayers and other area benefits may also be included, Town Manager David Cota said in a statement.

The board is not making a recommendation at this time but thinks because of the potential benefits, the proposal should be brought before residents, he said.

The property to be considered for annexation by the town is owned by Redington Mountain Windpower LLC, an Endless Energy affiliate, and by Dallas Company, a timber company.

Annexation involves selectmen petitioning the state Legislature to allow a vote by Carrabassett Valley voters.

Endless Energy intends to hold informal meetings with various groups and then larger informational meetings over several months, Cota said.