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If I had my druthers (yankee word meaning choice) I would have all our electricity generated by sources that didn't burn coal or heavy oil (carbon). I think we should replace the coal and oil facilites with modern design nuclear fission with fuel reprocessing for the base load and develop hydro, wind, biomass and photovolatic for additional natural energy harvesting.
Petroleum should be used as a road transportation fuel and organic chemical feedstock. Railroads can be electrified and run off the grid.
On the wind mill subject would you rather use clean electricity or unclean???
What an oversimplification of a complex issue! If only it were that simple.
Most of us who get labled as NIMBY on the issue of industrial wind installations are actually nothing of the sort. I'd be ok with a big wind installaiton in my area if only my town and state would insist on the following:
1) Planning: Yes, the wind industry is growing in the US, but planning and guidelines for development are SERIOUSLY lacking. Here's a press release from the National Academy of Sciences on this issue: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/on...RecordID=11935
2) Proper siting: These large wind turbines should not be placed so close to homes. They ought to be zoned with a 1,500 foot (or more) setback from property lines and a 2,000 foot (or more) setback from homes of "non-participating" landowners. This would alleviate many of the nusiance and health/safety issues that people are concerned about. Why don't we have better siting guidelines? Because the wind companies are advising the towns on what is best, and playing hardball with rural towns that are desparate for ANY sort of income -- telling them that if they don't use their suggested guidelines, they won't be able to build a project. In many cases, this is a complete lie. Take a look at what happened in Cherry Valley, NY: the town proposed 2,500 foot setback to protect residents & property values, and the wind company said "We'll never be able to do a project here with those setbacks." Guess what? The town approved these setbacks, and the Town Supervisor got calls from 3 wind developers saying that they'd like to discuss a project in his town...including the developer who said it would be impossible!
3) Encourage community sustainable wind energy development, rather than development by absentee owners. Would I rather see a new coal plant build or a wind energy facility? Definately wind. Would I rather see this facility owned by some large corporation that takes most of the benefit out of my community, or one owned locally? Local ownership, definately. Studies show that local ownership has a 5 times greater economic impact than ownership by an absentee corporate owner.
What's happening in towns like Mars Hill is a travesty, and this same story is playing out in rural towns all over the US. A couple of "lucky" landowners get some money, and their neighbors suffer because of poor project siting. It's a huge rip-off.
AUGUSTA – Governor John Baldacci today signed an executive order that creates the Governor’s Task Force on Wind Power Development in Maine.
“Maine must be aggressive in pursuing alternative sources of energy,” Governor Baldacci said. “We know that climate change is real. We know that people are contributing to the problem. And we know that wind power is a good source of clean, renewable energy.”
The Task Force will review the regulations that affect the development of wind power projects in the state and recommend any changes that would assure that Maine has a balanced, efficient and appropriate regulatory framework for evaluating proposed developments.
The Task Force will also monitor advances in wind power technology, identify benefits and incentives that might be available to communities considering wind power projects, help developers find the most appropriate locations for their projects and propose goals for wind power in Maine for 2010 and 2020.
“We want to make sure that we’re rolling out the red carpet for progress, particularly on wind power. But we also want to make sure we’re doing it in a way that’s sensitive to the neighbors of any project,” Governor Baldacci said.
The Governor will appoint 16 members to the Task Force. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House may appoint two members each.
The text of the executive order follows:
An Order Establishing the Governor's Task Force on Wind Power Development in Maine
WHEREAS, Maine energy policy seeks to promote the development and use of renewable energy sources to help reduce Maine’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, provide economic development, and promote security; and
WHEREAS, scientists have concluded that increases in greenhouse gas levels, including but not limited to carbon dioxide, are resulting in worldwide climate change; and
WHEREAS, wind power does not generate greenhouses gases and is broadly viewed as having fewer environmental impacts than other forms of electrical power generation; and
WHEREAS, wind power is the fastest growing utility-scale source of renewable energy in the world; and
WHEREAS, Maine has the highest wind potential of any New England state and ranks 19th in terms of wind potential in the United States as a whole; and
WHEREAS, wind power development can provide short term and long term economic and employment benefits for Maine citizens; and
WHEREAS, the State’s wind resources occur in various areas of the State that may have important ecological, natural resource, remote resource, and other values that are important to Maine people that can lead to conflict regarding the siting of wind power facilities; and
WHEREAS, Maine could become a leader in New England in the development of wind power if a comprehensive approach is pursued that involves guidelines that direct wind power toward appropriate locations; well-designed and efficient regulations; the protection of areas where wind power is not appropriate; and collaboration among state agencies, wind power developers, interested parties, and the public.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John E. Baldacci, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby establish the Governor’s Task Force on Wind Power Development in Maine.
PURPOSE AND DUTIES
The purpose and duties of the Task Force shall be to:
Examine the regulatory process and review criteria by which wind power projects currently are evaluated in Maine, identify barriers to wind power development and compare Maine’s policies with approaches used in other jurisdictions;
Identify and recommend any changes deemed beneficial for assuring that Maine has a balanced, efficient and appropriate regulatory framework for evaluating wind power projects. Changes might include, but are not limited to, updating statutory and regulatory review criteria, technology-specific wind power siting guidelines, opportunities for streamlined permitting for certain categories of wind power projects and the use of negotiated settlement tools for resolving conflicts;
Propose policy changes that would help facilitate the development of wind power in Maine and establish a lead agency for tracking wind power generated in Maine, monitoring technological advances in wind power generation and providing educational materials regarding wind power;
Examine and make appropriate recommendations regarding Federal, State and local programs and financing options available to assist in the development of wind power projects;
Identify a range of options, benefits and incentives that might be available to communities that are affected by wind power projects; Create guidelines and related information that would assist wind power developers in identifying areas in the State of Maine that are more appropriate for wind power development, and avoiding areas that are not appropriate for wind power development, due to legal, natural resource or public value constraints; and
Propose goals for installed wind power in Maine for 2010 and 2020, provide an estimate of the economic and emission-reduction benefits of achieving such goals and suggest strategies to attain those goals.
To fulfill these duties, the Task Force shall collaborate and coordinate with the Land Use Regulation Commission, the Department of Marine Resources, the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Public Utilities Commission, the Office of the Governor, members of the Maine Legislature and other interested members of the public. The establishment of this Task Force is not intended to delay or interfere with wind power projects that are already in the permitting process.
MEMBERSHIP
The Governor shall appoint 16 members to the Task Force. One member shall be the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation, or his designee; one member shall be the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection, or his designee; one member shall be the Director for the Office of Energy Independence and Security; one member shall be the Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, or his designee; and one member shall be the Director of the State Planning Office or her designee.
The remaining appointments shall include diverse members with relevant knowledge and experience in wind power development, land use and conservation policies and regulation, renewable energy policies, electricity and transmission policies and infrastructure, natural resource and remote recreation values, and environmental impacts from electrical power generation.
The President of the Senate may appoint two members of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House may appoint two members of the House of Representatives. Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority.
The Governor shall appoint the chair of the task force from among the members. The chair will schedule, set the agenda for, and preside at Task Force meetings.
STAFF
Staff support to the Task Force will be provided by the Land Use Regulation Commission, the State Planning Office, Department of Environmental Protection, and other state agencies as needed. The members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation.
REPORT
The Task Force shall submit its recommendations to the Governor no later than January 15, 2008 , after which the Task Force will dissolve.
I agree with the thought that local ownership of wind generation facilites is a desirable. But, how would a small town get the sheer amount of money needed to build these things? Take out a mortgage on the whole town? Convince the neighbors of the development to not only be inconvienced but have to pay for it as well? How will it get past the right wing ranters with such a "socialist" proposal?
Remember, I think the government should own the generation, transmission and distribution facilites. The Rural Electrification Administration during the '30 to 60's was the most effective, useful and proper electrification program ever. I simply believe that the "natural" monopolies should be owned by all of us, not just the lucky few. The "market" alteernative is to run at least three separate privately power systems and let the customers hook up to whichever one provides the best service at the lowest price. That is a market.
BTW - What makes anyone think the politico's down t' Orono are really going to make a difference?
I agree with the thought that local ownership of wind generation facilites is a desirable. But, how would a small town get the sheer amount of money needed to build these things?
There are many different business models for local ownership. I wasn't saying that the turbines should necessarily be owned by a town - in most cases, this would be impractical.
States can do quite a bit to encourage locally owned renewable energy projects, and Minnesota, for example, has passed important legislation to encourage this type of development. Check out www.c-bed.org for the basics.
Do a quick search on "Community Based Energy Development" or "Community Wind" for more information on this type of development in the US. Also, check www.windustry.org .
If some people are not willing to cut a deal then they can take the trouble or move to someplace without any wind, and streams, any power plants of any kind. I suggest another planet or Bangladesh.
This makes me truly laugh. Obviously you must not be downwind from a windfarm, living on land you absolutely love and don't especially want to leave. Money won't make me mind the noise any less either, and "cutting a deal" with UPC has not been something they've offered.
It is pointless to try to talk to people who don't live downwind (which is down-sound) and make them understand what it's like. They don't see our point of view and don't really appear to care.
I guess it could be much worse though, I could live near an industrial-sized hog farm... now that would probably be much more unpleasant.
After witnessing it for myself, I think the windmills are a problem for a handful of houses...maybe 5 or 6...maybe not even that many. Go ahead rip me for saying so...I didn't see any problem from the golf course...and I'd love to live there!!
Kellysmith... the golf course is on the west side of the mountain. The east and north is where the noise is heard. There are at least 3 houses for sale out here now... if you truly want to live here, buy one up!
qhmare
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Whoops...you've missed the point
Governor Creates Wind Power Task Force
The Task Force shall submit its recommendations to the Governor no later than 
