I’m writing in response to the Nov. 29 guest column, “Wind industry must be stopped,” by Monique Aniel and Steve Thurston. I offer Washington County as a shining example of how wind projects can have major economic and environmental benefits.

As the executive director of the Sunrise County Economic Council, a private nonprofit that encourages and facilitates the creation of prosperity and jobs in Washington County, I feel comfortable saying that the Stetson Wind project has been precisely the kind of economic driver we are working hard to bring in.

The Stetson project began in 2007. Since then, the region has seen an improvement in its economy. During the development and construction of the first phase of the project, more than $50 million was poured into the Maine and Washington County economy. Recently, ground was broken on the second phase of the Stetson project and people and companies statewide are working and providing materials and services in a county where economic development is rare.

A recent poll showed that 90 percent of the people in Maine recognize the economic and environmental benefits of wind power. Most of us want to see Maine’s economy improve, so let’s make sure it happens.

Washington County has welcomed wind power, and we’re happy with our choice. It brought real economic improvement to an area that needed it.

Collectively, Maine has the know-how, expertise and wind resources needed to build renewable energy projects and keep the economic benefits right here at home.

Harold Clossey, executive director,

Sunrise County Economic Council, Machias