- There is a proposal that is blowing in the wind for a series of wind towers on Record, Flathead, and Partridge mountains in Roxbury and Byron that would generate electricity to be used throughout the northeast. Independence Wind, LLC founders Angus King and Robert Gardiner presented their plan, known as Record Hill Wind, LLC, to roughly 50 Roxbury and Byron citizens at the new Roxbury Town Office on Nov. 14, listening to questions and concerns from residents. The views expressed on the project were decidedly mixed, with some applauding the effort to bring alternative energy sources to western Maine while others had concerns about the tower's possible impacts on views, property values, and taxes." We thought wind power was something that made sense for Maine," King explained, noting that he had formed Independence Wind along with Gardiner because the two jointly recognized the need for reducing the state's dependence on fossil fuels. "This is truly a renewable resource," said King. "It's making energy out of something that's up there anyway. Maine probably has more wind resources than any other state." Over 60 percent of Maine's energy, he noted, comes from burning natural gas. "It puts us in a position where we're vulnerable in terms of controlling the price of electricity." There are currently two test towers that have been put up to measure wind data for the Record Hill wind project. It is anticipated that by next spring, there will be enough data available for the project's principals to determine whether they can proceed to the next phase, filing a permit with the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC). The proposal calls for 24 to 29 towers over 200 feet in height to be put on the 5.5-mile north-south ridgeline, taking full advantage of the prevailing west or northwest winds. "It's really, we think a very good site for a wind project," said King. The project is expected to cost between $4 to $6 million per tower, with eighty percent of the investment being taxable. Only about five percent of Maine is suitable for wind towers. The developers noted that while wind farms have been put offshore in Massachusetts and other places, it is not possible to do that in Maine because the ocean is too deep. The ridge is between 2,000 and 2,500 feet in elevation. Studies have been done on how the towers would affect birds and other animals, but residents living on Garland and Roxbury Ponds, who would be in full view of the towers, asked how people living in those areas would be impacted. Interestingly enough, residents living around Garland Pond do not have electricity per the requirements of the pond's association. "You're talking about lights all over the towers, blinking lights," said Tony DeSalle. "People from Massachusetts and other areas, they're coming up here for the serenity. Before you venture into such a project, wouldn't you want to do a study on the impact on the people? You heard the negative reports from Garland Pond, but you're still going full speed ahead." "That's why we're here is to inform people," said King. The developers stated that Federal Aviation Administration rules require that some of the towers be lit. It is anticipated that if the Record Hill project is approved, one half to one third of the towers would have red, blinking lights on them at the but not on the blades. Independence Wind will avoid putting strobe lights on the towers, and special deflectors will be put in place to reduce the visibility of the lights below the turbines.
Gardiner assured residents that rules governing such projects do require impact studies on people, but that much of the visual impact is "subjective." A project map was available for citizens to view, and the location of transmission lines was indicated on it. The ridge's proximity to existing transmission lines is a significant factor in the current project's location, and while some transmission line upgrades will be needed, the principals stated that the cost of doing this is relatively affordable. "There are a percentage of us who fought the issue with CMP in the mid-80s," said Roxbury resident Kathy Sutton, recalling when a major electrical power project was proposed that would have had tall transmission towers and a dramatic impact on the view and surrounding environment. The project was defeated in the face of strong opposition from western Maine residents. Sutton encouraged King and Gardiner to keep residents informed about their wind project on a regular basis. "Do you have any guarantee that people are not going to get hit with any more taxes than they already are?" asked Robert Worthley of Roxbury. "I hate to guarantee anything, but the probability is that there will be a net benefit," said King. By the 10th year of the project, according to a tax study done by Independence Wind, it is anticipated that Byron's mil rate would be 11.37 as opposed to 14.78 without the project. The valuation would be about $20,781,045 without the project and $40,781,045 with it. Over the same 10-year span, Roxbury would experience a decrease in its mil rate with the project as well, 21.38 in the 10th year without it compared to 11.78 with it. Also, the town would see an increase in the municipal budget, $713,622 in the 10th year without the project as opposed to $1,257,179 with it. There would be a loss in state education subsidy of $458,487 for Roxbury with the project, along with lost state revenue sharing and an increase in county taxes. Byron would also experience losses in education subsidy, revenue sharing, and taxes. Two thirds of the project is in Roxbury and one third in Byron, hence the more significant effect the wind towers would have on Roxbury's taxes. Byron selectman Steve Duguay pointed out that tree growth reimbursement would also be impacted by the project. "It's an oversimplified analysis at this point," said Gardiner of the tax impact study. With regard to the noise issue, he noted that on most wind farms, it is only a problem in certain light wind conditions on the downwind side of the towers, when a "whooshing" sound can be heard within 3,000 feet of the turbines as the blades turn. Mechanical noise is minimal, as the equipment units at the tower bases are sealed. King and Gardiner stressed that pesticides will not be used to keep brush under and around the towers from growing too much. It is expected that a brush hog will be used to perform this task. The land upon which most of the towers would be situated is owned by Bay Root, LLC and managed by Wagner Forest Management. Independence Wind has been negotiating with a private landowner to try to incorporate another small segment of land into the project. Public access was a concern for some citizens, as snowmobiling and ATV riding are activities traditionally enjoyed by people in the area where the towers would be put up. "We're doing this as a partnership with Wagner," said Gardiner. "They're going to make these final decisions." Wagner has usually allowed public recreational access on its lands. One of the hazards of the towers is ice that forms on the blades in the winter and then comes off as the blades turn and plummets to the ground. King and Gardiner warned the gathering that during a warm-up after a period of icing, being around the towers would pose more of a danger than at other times. Signs would be posted around them in conspicuous places warning of the ice danger. "We don't know yet who will buy the power," asked King when pressed by residents. The towers would generate between two and three megawatts of power each per year. While the physics of electricity make power travel to the nearest places, the generator and seller of power can be different. "They call this the New England power pool, and it's a good metaphor," said Gardiner. "They can't really trace what drop comes from where." If the entire project comes to fruition, the closest tower would be located a little over half a mile from Garland Pond. Residents there continued to express their concerns to the developers about possible noise issues and the visual impact, along with a potential negative effect on property values. DeSalle continued to express his opposition to the project in a post-meeting interview. "For the amount of electricity it will generate, it's not worth it," he said. He added that he could not see any benefits for Roxbury Pond or Garland Pond residents. However, Roxbury town clerk Tina Howard had a different view. She spoke of taking a trip to Prince Edward Island and being awed by the wind towers there. "This is an opportunity that we have been waiting for for many years. It's a very positive thing for Roxbury. We ought to embrace it." With more public hearings and the approval of a LURC permit, the developers hope to start construction on the wind towers in 2009 and finish them the following year. The towers are expected to have a life span of 25 to 30 years, after which they would be replaced with new, state-of-the-art turbines. The Department of Environmental Protection may require the developers to create a special fund to guarantee removal at the end of the machines' useful lives. Next July, the principals are hoping to file for a DEP permit. Both King and Gardiner stated that they would continue to play an active role in the project as owners even after it is built. "We certainly don't have any further plans to do wind projects in Roxbury and Byron," said King. "Will this project solve global warming? No. Will it make a dent in fossil fuel consumption in New England? Yes," he added. For more information on Independence Wind, go to http://independencewind.com. King and Gardiner stated that they were committed to keeping citizens informed through e-mail or mail.
From the Rumford Falls Times