Freedom: Installation of wind farm nears
May 9 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Walter Griffin Bangor Daily
News, Maine
Barring any legal challenges, installation of the Beaver Ridge wind turbines
could begin this summer.
First Selectman Ron Price, owner of the land where the $12 million wind farm
will be located, said the devices have been ordered and delivery is expected
to take place in July. The three 400-foot-tall windmills planned for the
site are similar to those in place at Mars Hill, he said. They are projected
to produce 4.5 megawatts of power annually.
"They have been approved, they are moving ahead," Price said Wednesday.
Beaver Ridge Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Competitive Energy Services of
Portland, was granted a building permit last year but that action was
appealed by abutters to the windmill site. The board of appeals last week
rejected the attempt to revoke the building permit.
Beaver Ridge Wind project manager Andrew Price, who is Ron Price's nephew,
could not be reached for comment.
Opponents of the project argued that Beaver Ridge had not begun work on the
project in the six-month time frame allotted under its building permit.
Price said the board determined that because the company already had placed
orders for the wind turbines, it was indicative of the project being under
way.
The project has been debated since it was announced three years ago. It was
blocked initially when the town enacted a Commercial Development Review
Ordinance that established regulations preventing certain activities.
Residents supporting the project, however, successfully petitioned the town
to hold a special election on the matter. When it came to a vote last June,
the review ordinance was repealed 159-112.
Opponents responded by placing an article on the June 10 municipal ballot
calling for reinstatement of the review ordinance. If approved the ordinance
would become retroactively effective to the date it was repealed last year.
"This is the only way to put some reasonable standards in force," according
to a written statement by abutter Steve Bennett. "When the town voted to
repeal the ordinance last year, we were told that the planning board would
write a new one. This has not happened and there is no effort by the
planning board to write one now."
Bennett said that rather than an outright repeal, the ordinance should have
been amended to correct any problems or concerns residents might have had.
Bennett said that without an ordinance the town has no protection from noise
and there were no setback requirements. He said the turbines would be
located 350 feet from abutting property lines.
"We don't even have a fall zone, much less the safety setback recommended by
turbine manufacturers," he stated.
Price said the developer had conducted a storm-water runoff study as
required by the Department of Environmental Protection and abutters also had
appealed that document. The appeal is pending. Price speculated the project
would likely end up in court if voters decide to reinstate the review
ordinance.
"If it fails and doesn't get reinstated there's nothing to appeal or take to
court," he said. "But if it does get reinstated, there could be legal
action." |