Maine pushes wind power as way to boost jobs

First Wind wildlife biologist Bob Roy ties a ribbon to the guardrails of a wind turbine on eastern Maine's Stetson Mountain in preparation for ceremonial opening of the largest wind-energy project in New England. (Bangor Daily News photo by Gabor Degre) The 38 turbines will produce 57 megawatts. In Maine, "Wind farms that would produce more than 400 megawatts are being built or are under permit review for possible construction next year," reports Nick Sambides Jr. of the Daily News. "At least another 230 megawatts are listed in early, or post-2010, development."

Thursday's startup drew 10 protesters from the Friends of Lincoln Lakes group, which opposes a wind farm that First Wind has proposed on Rollins Mountain. "The group fears that wind farms will blight the landscape, lower property values and cause health problems associated with the turbines’ noise and light flicker," Sambides reports. But the company says the project will reduce carbon-dioxide emissions, and Gov. John Baldacci and other state officials are pushing wind power as a way to get lower-cost electricity to the state's paper mills and other industries. (Read more)