Words to our Legislators

In 2008, as oil prices skyrocketed, Maine committed itself to a “wind energy plan.” Believing that adding large amounts of wind energy to our electricity mix would be a good thing for our economy, our environment, and our security, we launched a plan to install 2700 megawatts (name-plate capacity) of industrial wind turbines across hundreds of miles of Maine’s summits.

We’ve learned a lot since that time. Now we know that grid-scale wind is unaffordable, unnecessary, unreliable, and unsustainable. Now we know that grid-scale wind energy has impacts which are far greater than its negligible benefits. Now we have some experience with grid-scale wind, and we know that the laws enacted in 2008 need to be adjusted. Due to what we’ve learned, a well-organized and thoughtful series of reform legislation flooded the EUT Committee this session.

*We know that Maine’s already-clean total electricity generation capacity far exceeds our usage.
*We know wind is unreliable, unstorable, and undispatchable.
*We know the 2700 MW goal will sacrifice hundreds of Mountains for not even 5% more electricity in our grid.
*We know it is incompatible with the grid.
*We know wind needs constant back-up by base-load generation systems.
*We know that wind does not cause a material reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
*We know that only a small fraction of Maine’s electricity is generated by coal or oil, and that what we do use is obtained in North America, and not from the Middle East.
*We know that in order to get the electricity produced by wind to the Grid, a 450 mile-long high voltage transmission corridor must be built through 75 Maine towns, and that rate-payers will bear a portion of the $1.4 BILLION cost.
*We know that, per MegawattHour produced, the subsidies for wind are many times higher than those for every other energy source; and 50 to 60% of a wind project is taxpayer funded.
*We know that up to 60% of those tax-payer subsidies go overseas to countries like China, Germany and Denmark, where the turbines are manufactured.
*We know that industrial turbines are a threat to migratory birds, raptors and bats.
*We know that Maine’s storied natural resources are a major economic driver.
*We know that Maine’s #1 asset is our unequalled “Quality of Place”, and its foundation rests upon our natural resources, and that thousands of industrial turbines do not fit in this scenario.
*We know that wind developments spend much but invest little.
*MOST IMPORTANT, we know that EVERY multi-turbine, wind facility in Maine that has been sited near people now has significant unresolved disputes over turbine noise and flicker.

Now that we’ve learned all this (and more); what we DON’T know is….Why are we doing this?

LD 1366 proposes moving up the timetable for comprehensive studies of the impacts and benefits of grid-scale wind developments. It is a good idea to examine these issues, and both the minority and majority reports will do so. While these important studies need to be conducted, if passed as currently written, LD 1366 will be a ‘do nothing’ bill. Mainers need protection from the health effects of living in close proximity to wind turbines NOW. They need protection from possible devaluation of their real estate investments NOW.

The minority report which will be proposed by Representative Larry Dunphy will take two important steps. It will order the study recommended by the EUT Committee, while omitting the fiscal note pertaining to sound studies. In addition, his version of the bill will provide protection in the form of safe setbacks for industrial wind turbines—while still allowing property owners who live within those designated area to opt out and allow reduced setbacks. This version of LD 1366 is not only fair to all, but is less costly than the majority report with Rep. Fitts’ amendment.

Please vote in support of Rep. Larry Dunphy’s ‘minority report’ on LD 1366.