DIXFIELD — Residents from Carthage, Canton and Dixfield will have a chance Thursday, March 10, at 6 p.m. to ask questions and make comments about a planned 12- turbine industrial wind project on the Saddleback Ridge in Carthage.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection will also field questions about proposed electric transmission lines which are planned for the three towns, an electrical substation proposed for Canton, other related infrastructure, and an operation and maintenance building.

The Saddleback Ridge project has been submitted to the department. Two other projects in much earlier stages are proposed: Seven turbine for Canton Mountain in Canton; 13 turbines for the Colonel Holman Mountain ridgeline in Dixfield.

The meeting will be preceded by a free supper at 4 p.m. sponsored by the River Valley Alliance Against Wind. Residents who attend the supper will have a chance to express concerns about wind projects and view films of the area. Both events will be held in the community room of Dirigo High School on Weld Street.

Mark Margerum, DEP project manager, said representatives from other state agencies, such as the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Conservation, will also be available to field questions.

The Quincy, Mass., firm, Patriot Renewables LLC, doing business as Saddleback Ridge Wind LLC, has proposed construction of a $65 million, 32-megawatt project for the Carthage site.

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The Department of Environmental Protection asks that members of the public submit questions in writing at the meeting so that each question can be addressed before the licensing decision.

Residents may also submit questions and comments to Margerum at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 17 State House Station, August, Maine 04333.

The application may be seen at the department’s website, or at any of the three municipal offices.

Margerum said a decision is expected to be made on the Carthage application sometime in April.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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