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Redington Wind
Development Project
MATLT opposes
the wind turbine siting on Redington and Black Nubble
mountains
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Simulation - Redington from Sugarloaf Cirque
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The
information and most of the imagery was provided courtesy of
the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
Read MATC/ATC Comments to the
Land Use Regulatory Commission
Read MAS/ATC/MATC press release - June 7
2006
Background
Maine Mountain Power (MMP) proposes to construct an energy
production facility consisting of 30 wind turbines which
exceed 400 ft. in height, from base to blade tip, strung on
top of the ridge line between the summits of Redington Peak
(4010’) and Black Nubble (3700’), together with associated
roads and transmission lines.
Virtually all of the project elements, except the above
ground transmission lines and existing forest management
roads, will be above 2700’ elevation and, therefore, in the
LURC Mountain Area Protection Subdistrict (P-MA).
Specifically, all 30 wind turbines will be in the P-MA, with
the vast majority of the tower bases being at 3000’ or
above.
The Redington Peak turbines will have their bases at
approximately 4000’, making their blade tips about 4400’;
the highest points in the State of Maine except for
Katahdin.
More than eight miles of new roads are proposed in the P-MA,
with most of the mileage being above 3000’ and some of the
new roads being at elevations between 3700’ and 4000’.
Blasting will be required to accommodate the 30 foot deep
foundations for the 30 towers. Given the location of the
towers, all of this will be in the P-MA. Extensive blasting
will also likely be required for road construction, most of
which will be in the P-MA. It also seems likely that
blasting will be required in order to bury power lines at
higher elevations.
Concerns about the rezoning application to permit wind
development on Redington Mountain
The LURC Comprehensive Plan calls for a state-wide siting
analysis to be done. This has not yet happened.
The current Mountain Protection Subdistrict does not allow for
this kind of large scale development above 2700 feet.
Rezoning decision will set a precedent for where wind energy
development will be allowed in Maine.
Since Redington is a high conflict site, approval would appear
to allow wind to develop almost anywhere.
The MMP project will impact an S3 (rare) natural community (Fir
– Heartleaved Birch Subalpine Forest) as ranked by the Maine
Natural Areas Program (MNAP).
A glance at the map is all one must have to see that the
developer is proposing to build roads and turbines right in the
center of a habitat type that is documented as being rare.
Bird/bat sensing devices were not deployed anywhere near the
ridge of Redington Peak or Black Nubble. The devices were more
than 1000 feet lower than the summits because of “difficult
terrain.”
According to the
State of Maine Wildlife Plan and Partners in Flight,
Bicknell’s Thrush is one of the most critically imperiled
species in the Northeastern United States. Habitat
models for Bicknell’s show prime habitat on both Redington
and Black Nubble.
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