Voices of Somerset County--A Press Release

Once again, the names Lexington and Concord are in the forefront of a People’s right to self-determination.  As the Colonials did in 1775, the citizens of these Maine communities are facing what would seem to be an overwhelming force from abroad.

  But citizens in Lexington and Concord Townships--and in Highland Plantation, too--will not be intimidated.  We're taking a stand.  Speaking up.

And saying "No!"

PRESS RELEASE

Who:  FRIENDS OF THE HIGHLAND MOUNTAINS

When:   November 17, 2011; 11:00 a.m.

Where: Hall of Flags, State Capitol, Augusta, ME

Contacts: Alan Michka; (207) 628-2014 or 860-8714; Karen Pease; (207) 628-2070 or 340-0066

RESIDENTS OF THREE SOMERSET COUNTY COMMUNITIES ASK GOVERNOR LEPAGE TO HELP THEM PROTECT THEIR HOMES AND QUALITY OF LIFE FROM MULTIPLE WIND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

A majority of the residents of Highland Plantation and Concord and Lexington Townships are expressing opposition to the wind development plans of former Governor Angus King’s Highland Wind LLC and Iberdrola Renewables, a subsidiary of Spain-based Iberdrola SA, and the largest operator of wind turbines in the world.  Highland Wind LLC is backed by the Yale University Endowment.

In an ongoing petition effort, a majority of the voting age residents have, so far, signed petitions stating their opposition to industrial wind development within their respective communities.  In Lexington, seventy-seven percent (77%) of residents have already signed.  Many of the communities’ non-resident property owners have also shown their opposition by signing the petition. 

In 2010, Ignacio Galan, chairman of Iberdrola Group, told the Portland Press Herald that “If Maine signals that it’s no longer friendly to wind power, the global energy company will expand elsewhere.”  Alan Michka, a resident of Lexington says “The Concord and Lexington petitions make it clear that these communities are not friendly to Iberdrola’s plans.  Hopefully, Iberdrola will make good on their threat to expand elsewhere.  Certainly, they’re not welcome here.” 

Many Maine towns have passed ordinances that effectively restrict wind power development within their borders.  Plantations and unorganized townships such as Concord and Lexington, however, have no legal means to protect their communities with such ordinances.

“If 51% of the registered voters in any Maine town came out against a wind development, it would not be permitted,” says Karen Pease, another Lexington resident.  “It simply would not be built.  Period, end of story.  In this case, we have 77% speaking in opposition.  Rural areas of Maine have been targeted for industrial development, and citizens who live here were not allowed to have a say before these Unorganized Territories were rezoned.  Our communities have spoken decisively.  We do not want grid-scale wind facilities to be built within our borders.  We must not be disenfranchised simply because we live in rural Maine.”

At the conclusion of the press conference, copies of the petitions will be delivered to Governor LePage’s office along with a letter asking the Governor to use his executive powers to remove Highland Plantation, Concord and Lexington from the state’s Expedited Permitting Area (EPA), thereby fully restoring the voice of residents and property owners in the future of their communities.  Removal from the EPA does not prevent wind energy development, but requires the developer to secure approval for a change of zoning, an action that allows the residents to weigh in on the proposed change.  Petition results and an appeal for support will also be delivered to key legislators, state agencies and the Somerset County Commissioners in an effort to draw their attention to the residents’ effort to protect their community from the negative impacts of industrial scale wind development.