Sign Our Online Petition – Click Here
NEW VIDEO! – Save the Mountains of Highland Maine
Dear Neighbor,
Thank you for your interest in the Friends Of The Highland Mountains. We will do our best to keep you updated as we get new information regarding the Highland Plantation industrial wind energy complex planned by Highland Wind LLC. However, any time you have questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
Each day we become more concerned about the implications of the development of the hundreds of miles of Maine’s mountain ridges that will be required to meet the goals stated in the new expedited permitting law, LD2283. Our resolve to preserve the scenic and natural character of rural Maine’s mountains is strengthened by our continued recognition of the important role these beautiful places play in our community’s identity, quality of place and livelihood.
The legislature’s passage of LD2283 in 2008, unfortunately, went largely unnoticed by most citizens. The implications of this act are enormous and do not bode well for much of rural Maine. The act greatly accelerates and streamlines the permitting of these large industrial facilities in over two-thirds of Maine’s land. Approximately 3.5 million acres of this expedited permitting area lies within the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission’s jurisdiction. Unlike the residents of organized towns, however, those of us in the unorganized territories have no input into the siting or regulation of these developments. Most of the towns and townships surrounding Highland Plantation lie within the expedited permitting area defined by LD2283
Alarmingly, LD2283 severely restricts LURC’s review of the visual impacts of these windmills which can be over 400’ in height – taller than the Statue of Liberty. Within the expedited permitting area, with rare exception, the commission can no longer consider the scenic character of the surrounding area, the development’s impact on views, or the preservation of the natural character of ridgelines. As hard as this is to believe, it is true. This information is easily found through an examination of the text of LD2283 and the revised edition of Chapter 10 of LURC’s Rules and Standards.
Our western sky with no turbines - yet
These large windmill complexes have been implicated in numerous noise and health complaints throughout the world and even in Maine at currently operating facilities. Chronic sleep disturbance and its consequences are the most common health complaint. Regulatory noise standards, which are already quite weak in rural Maine, were not addressed to compensate for the sound characteristics that are unique to industrial scale wind turbines. One well-regarded acoustic engineer commented that large wind turbines “have resulted in numerous complaints from people who find they no longer live in the quiet rural community they enjoyed before the turbines went online.”
We feel it is important to note that we are not an anti-wind energy organization. We are an organization that wants to see responsible, careful, and long term consideration given to the resources and citizens of our communities. In our case, the citizens have no input. We will be opposing this development on several levels, in essence, fighting on several fronts. The permit application, DP4862, is currently being processed by the LURC. While we are vigorously opposing the permitting of this sprawling industrial complex, we will also be working in conjunction with other groups within Maine to place a moratorium on the permitting of any new industrial scale wind energy facilities under the expedited permitting law. A complete repeal of this misguided and flawed law would be more desirable.
The most important and potentially effective component of this struggle will be citizen action. A loud and unified voice from the property owners and residents of Maine is essential if we are to move our legislators and other government officials off the mark of indifference on this issue. Be assured that each voice not heard diminishes our chance for success. If you want to see the mountains of western Maine preserved, you must realize how much your voice counts, and use it.
We hope that you will join us in our effort to preserve the beauty and tranquility of the mountains of Highland Plantation as well as those of the surrounding communities. This is a formidable task and will take the effort of many.
Friends Of The Highland Mountains