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A disagreement about Black Nubble |
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Your 1/17/08 opinion on the Land Use Regulation Commission’s split decision on two wind power projects in western Maine states that the Black Nubble project was turned down for subjective aesthetic reasons. (“LURC must rethink wind farm deal”). This is the second time that LURC has rejected the Black Nubble location for a utility wind farm development despite intense political support trom the Governor and the financial backing from a major coal-fired utility.
Could it not be that there was something wrong with the Black Nubble project? Could it be that the developer selected a poor location? conducted poor engineering & financing studies? stated a poor rationale for changing zoning regulations? and submitted an incomplete application that was not consistent with the land use regulations in the State of Maine?
I suspect that the Black Nubble rejection was not due to the influence of “extremely narrow special interests” but because the LURC process worked as it should. The LURC commissioners showed far better judgment and knowledge than you do in forming their opinions.
You now echo the developer’s assertion that Governor Baldacci’s Wind Power Task force will, for political reasons I assume, come up with guidelines that would allow the Black Nubble project to be approved. The task force can best do its job by using the Redington/Black Nubble project as an example of inappropriate wind project siting, highlighting the reasons the project was rejected, and using the information to proactively promote correct development in appropriate locations.
Tony Barrett
Harpswell
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