Wind turbine noise problem in Mars Hill (Houlton, Union: construction, contractor)

[SteveMartin]

Five months and no new posts? And after I spent all afternoon reading this mammoth thread looking for late-breaking info at the end??...lol....

Anyway, I live half way between the Mars Hill project and the new UPC project currently under construction (called "The Stetson Project") in Prentiss. I have been through Mars Hill dozens of times and never heard them, but that was traveling downtown--a good mile or more away. I certainly sympathize with anyone that needs to listen to 45-52 dbM each day and night, all day and night.

Here's what we need to do:

1. BUILD QUIETER ONES.
2. HAVE STATE LAWS THAT BAR:
a. the construction of wind farms without LOCAL VOTER APPROVAL
b. Decibel limits of 35 or below as minimum setback requirements, OR pay offended families an agreed annual sum to sign a waiver (for over 35, but<60 dbM.)
3. GET MORE LOCAL OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS GOING with regard to new wind farm construction and thus take corporate greed, nationally, out of the equation to a large degree.
4. GET THE TOWERS CLOSEST TO AFFECTED FOLKS IN MARS HILL QUIETER NOW, by regulating installation of further buffering agents in/on/around the tower(s) (To be paid for by UPC.)

I didn't see any mention in this mammoth thread about the USE of the power generated at Mars Hill. Where is it going?? Rumors have it that most, if not all, is going to Canada, and that Aroostook County residents are not even benefiting tangentially from that project due to lower electric prices.

NEVER AGAIN!!!

I am on the Republican State Committee with several other good Aroostook folks who are extremely concerned about energy issues. They will soon be getting an earful on what we must do to BUILD QUIET and TRULY EFFICIENT wind farms in Aroostook's future that will BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF AROOSTOOK COUNTY.

[Coaster]

Originally Posted by SteveMartin

Five months and no new posts? And after I spent all afternoon reading this mammoth thread looking for late-breaking info at the end??...lol....

Anyway, I live half way between the Mars Hill project and the new UPC project currently under construction (called "The Stetson Project") in Prentiss. I have been through Mars Hill dozens of times and never heard them, but that was traveling downtown--a good mile or more away. I certainly sympathize with anyone that needs to listen to 45-52 dbM each day and night, all day and night.

Here's what we need to do:

1. BUILD QUIETER ONES.
2. HAVE STATE LAWS THAT BAR:
a. the construction of wind farms without LOCAL VOTER APPROVAL
b. Decibel limits of 35 or below as minimum setback requirements, OR pay offended families an agreed annual sum to sign a waiver (for over 35, but<60 dbM.)
3. GET MORE LOCAL OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS GOING with regard to new wind farm construction and thus take corporate greed, nationally, out of the equation to a large degree.
4. GET THE TOWERS CLOSEST TO AFFECTED FOLKS IN MARS HILL QUIETER NOW, by regulating installation of further buffering agents in/on/around the tower(s) (To be paid for by UPC.)

I didn't see any mention in this mammoth thread about the USE of the power generated at Mars Hill. Where is it going?? Rumors have it that most, if not all, is going to Canada, and that Aroostook County residents are not even benefiting tangentially from that project due to lower electric prices.

NEVER AGAIN!!!

I am on the Republican State Committee with several other good Aroostook folks who are extremely concerned about energy issues. They will soon be getting an earful on what we must do to BUILD QUIET and TRULY EFFICIENT wind farms in Aroostook's future that will BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF AROOSTOOK COUNTY.

Interesting that a Republican -- and a state committeeman at that -- is advocating all this government interference and regulation of a much needed industry. Do they know about this over at AMG? Did you take a similar stand on the Big A dam and Maine Yankee?

Just FYI, today's turbines are whisper quiet compared to those of even ten years ago. It's a developing technology. The new power distribution system upgrades that Bangor Hydro and CMP are planning, from what I have read, will provide a stronger link between Aroostook power generation projects and the rest of the state. Current capacity and infrastructure are inadequate.

Requiring local votes sounds wonderful, but it's tailormade for a few NIMBYs to stir up enough nonsensical hysteria to cancel project after project. That's what has happened time and again with LNG and other power-related projects in Maine and elsewhere. And requiring that the power be used locally is just plain shortsighted. If that's your standard, then Aroostook should depend solely on power generated in Aroostook County, without importing any electricity from those poor folks in southern Maine who have to put up with natural-gas powered generators and hydroelectric dams. It doesn't stand the logic test, although it sure sounds good coming from a politician.

[SteveMartin]

First of all, I am NOT a politician. Being a member of the State Committee doesn't give you anything other than the opportunity to tell the Republican Party what it SHOULD be like. We have let the other side show they "care" for far too long while taxing all of us to the economic graveyard.

You are not dealing with some flunky here who doesn't understand the way the energy industries in this country have been run for nearly 120 years. We need the people to have a voice. If the project managers can't get a majority vote out of a small town with the merits of their project, then, quite frankly, they need to either:

A. Have a better project to pitch, or
B. Pitch the project they have better (and live by their promises.)

No one is suggesting REQUIRING that generated power be used locally. But internationally(?!?) when our own people face death from starvation or freezing this winter?? Now, that's a different story. If the project managers can sell the project locally with the TRUTH about the power going to Canada, more power to 'em.

Not all Republicans are monopoly capitalists. Some of us are still laissez faire capitalists who understand how monopolies and giant corporations can and do prey on consumers and small, local governments. Somebody has to speak for the voiceless, or else we could be back walking over the foam from one bank of the Androscoggin to the other.

Look, I am NO GREENIE. I am a economic populist who thinks whatever power sources we use (and I am in favor of more/new/revisited hydro/nuke projects in Maine as well as for drilling for oil wherever there is oil in the good ol' USA to drill for) they should benefit more than just the already deep pockets of the energy kingpins. Since the electric utilities have already been granted monopoly status, there is nothing that anti-monopoly, laissez faire capitalists can do with this existing paradigm other than urge TRULY QUIET and TRULY EFFICIENT wind farms (and other generation schemes) that BENEFIT THE PEOPLE. After all, that is why these utilities were (at least theoretically) monopolized in the first place.

I am taking no position with regard to UPC and its projects in rural Maine at present. I do not have all the facts. However, if it turns out that they indeed bribed local officials, or if local officials received undue benefits from their positions, that will never happen again in Aroostook County, you can be sure of that. If there are just a few NIMBYs who can not backup their assertions, they will get short shrift from me.

We will see how this all shakes out...Let's let the facts tell the story.

If the UPCs of the world can make a good profit while NOT harming anyone (or compensating those they harm in an agreed upon fashion for the harm they do) MORE POWER TO 'EM!

[SteveMartin]

P.S. Give us Dickey-Lincoln and we will never ask for a spark of electric from you energy hogs.

[RANGER.101ST]

i have been reading this thred for a while now.and this is what im seeing.
no mater what they build for a power plant some one some where is going to whine.
nuke power is dangerous,what if some thing happens?
hydro power kills the fish.biomass power kills the trees and polutes the air.
oil and coal add harmfull green house gas ,wind power is to noisey and is harmfull to the birds.but i have all so notised those that are whineing go home every night and turn on their lights and wach tv.

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by SteveMartin

First of all, I am NOT a politician. Being a member of the State Committee doesn't give you anything other than the opportunity to tell the Republican Party what it SHOULD be like. We have let the other side show they "care" for far too long while taxing all of us to the economic graveyard.

You are not dealing with some flunky here who doesn't understand the way the energy industries in this country have been run for nearly 120 years. We need the people to have a voice. If the project managers can't get a majority vote out of a small town with the merits of their project, then, quite frankly, they need to either:

A. Have a better project to pitch, or
B. Pitch the project they have better (and live by their promises.)

No one is suggesting REQUIRING that generated power be used locally. But internationally(?!?) when our own people face death from starvation or freezing this winter?? Now, that's a different story. If the project managers can sell the project locally with the TRUTH about the power going to Canada, more power to 'em.

Not all Republicans are monopoly capitalists. Some of us are still laissez faire capitalists who understand how monopolies and giant corporations can and do prey on consumers and small, local governments. Somebody has to speak for the voiceless, or else we could be back walking over the foam from one bank of the Androscoggin to the other.

Look, I am NO GREENIE. I am a economic populist who thinks whatever power sources we use (and I am in favor of more/new/revisited hydro/nuke projects in Maine as well as for drilling for oil wherever there is oil in the good ol' USA to drill for) they should benefit more than just the already deep pockets of the energy kingpins. Since the electric utilities have already been granted monopoly status, there is nothing that anti-monopoly, laissez faire capitalists can do with this existing paradigm other than urge TRULY QUIET and TRULY EFFICIENT wind farms (and other generation schemes) that BENEFIT THE PEOPLE. After all, that is why these utilities were (at least theoretically) monopolized in the first place.

I am taking no position with regard to UPC and its projects in rural Maine at present. I do not have all the facts. However, if it turns out that they indeed bribed local officials, or if local officials received undue benefits from their positions, that will never happen again in Aroostook County, you can be sure of that. If there are just a few NIMBYs who can not backup their assertions, they will get short shrift from me.

We will see how this all shakes out...Let's let the facts tell the story.

If the UPCs of the world can make a good profit while NOT harming anyone (or compensating those they harm in an agreed upon fashion for the harm they do) MORE POWER TO 'EM!

If you ever want to have affordable power generated anywhere in this state you may wish to reconsider some of your remarks.
We also know that once electricity is in the power lines, that it goes to where it is being used. Electricity is an international market. Good luck keeping it here in the state. Also, while I'm on a rant, the power should be generated closer to where it is actually being used... less waste in the lines that way.

[SteveMartin]

Austin,

I fail to see significant areas of disagreement between our positions based on your short statement.

The only thing I may take issue with is your possible implication that electricity needs to be an international market. I truly believe this country doesn't need anyone or anything. You are absolutely true in saying it is an international market. I would argue that, if it made economic and compassionate sense to change that, there is nothing preventing us from doing so.

People need to stop thinking "globally" and start thinking like Americans again. We can do ANYTHING for ourselves we set our mind to. The rest is neo-communist (i.e. globalist) propaganda.

Cheers.

[RANGER.101ST]

Originally Posted by SteveMartin

Austin,

I fail to see significant areas of disagreement between our positions based on your short statement.

The only thing I may take issue with is your possible implication that electricity needs to be an international market. I truly believe this country doesn't need anyone or anything. You are absolutely true in saying it is an international market. I would argue that, if it made economic and compassionate sense to change that, there is nothing preventing us from doing so.

People need to stop thinking "globally" and start thinking like Americans again. We can do ANYTHING for ourselves we set our mind to. The rest is neo-communist (i.e. globalist) propaganda.

Cheers.

good belief in theory.but the hard fack is that we do need the other country's as much as they need us.what we need to do is to let some of these inventors have free rain stop choaking them with regulations and see what they come up with.as long as the fedral gov is involved nothing will get done.they spend billions a year talking about doing something and in the end our power bill's still go up.wind power is a good idea but if i have to foot the bill to build it why dont i just buy my owne wind mill.

[moughie]

Originally Posted by RANGER.101ST

i have been reading this thred for a while now.and this is what im seeing.
no mater what they build for a power plant some one some where is going to whine.
nuke power is dangerous,what if some thing happens?
hydro power kills the fish.biomass power kills the trees and polutes the air.
oil and coal add harmfull green house gas ,wind power is to noisey and is harmfull to the birds.but i have all so notised those that are whineing go home every night and turn on their lights and wach tv.

Well said, especially your last sentence.

[Maineah]

In the 1800 in Maine they cut down all of the trees in the state and stood back and proclaimed it was the look of progress. In the early 1900's they built factories, and power plants, built mills of all sorts and stood back and looked at the new face of progress. In the mid 1970's they started building Nuclear power plants, expanded highways all over the country, watched as cities became smog filled, rivers became dead and toxic, lakes became dumps and they stood back and looked at the mess they had caused and said... This is progress??
Now progress is measured by how little impact we can have on our surroundings while maintaining a luxurious,(by most countries standards) lifestyle. We are reverting back to an era where the needs of the many are going to be ignored to satisfy the needs of the few. That's why Maine looks so good to a lot of people now regardless of the reality of poor economic climate ,fuel and heating costs, and a bleak future. It's one of the few places left ,near civilization where one can build a home relatively inexpensively, heat it with sustainable products like wood, peat and fuel pellets, enjoy clean water, clean air, low crime and a chance to raise a family without a lot of outside turmoil or influence.
You can pretty much live off the land around here if you work at it. It looks utopic to the uninitiated. The freedom of taking care of yourself never gets old. Maine will get through the oil problem.