WINDY CONVERSATION

Gov. John Baldacci has two helpful initiatives under way. One seeks to increase the state’s production and use of alternative energy, including wind power, and the other hopes to improve cellular phone reception across Maine. So, why not marry the two?

The primary hurdle to more wind power and better cell phone coverage is public objection to building more towers. Many, understandably, find the towers unsightly. Some environmental groups worry that birds and bats die when they hit towers or turbines.

Putting cellular phone repeaters and wind turbines on the same tower would minimize these problems. More important, it could make wind power more financially attractive because of additional fees that leasing tower space to the cellular industry might generate. Because large numbers of cellular antennas have already been located in urban areas, sometimes hidden in church steeples and ballpark score boards, industry experts say such co-location is more likely in rural areas. Another plus for Maine.

Some in the wind-power industry are already talking about such co-location, according to Peter Gish of UPC Wind Partners, the company that plans to build a wind farm on Mars Hill Mountain. However, it is unclear if any such combination towers are in use in the United States.

Paul Gipe, a wind-power expert in California, has seen cell phone repeaters on wind-power towers in Europe. The key, he says, is to ensure that such a combination is tastefully done with the cellular equipment as invisible as possible.

What this effort now needs is a push from the governor. Gov. Baldacci has appointed an advisory panel to look for ways to improve cell phone service here. The prospect of combining communication equipment – whether antennas needed by the Department of Public Safety, television and radio stations or mobile phone companies – with power generating wind turbines should be high on the panel’s list.

Maine ranks 19th in the country for wind energy potential according to the American Wind Energy Association. Working with communications companies to lower the cost of building wind farms and to ease the regulatory process would give a large boost to the governor’s plans to diversify Maine’s energy supply and to use cleaner, renewable sources.

It may also help to answer the question, “Can you hear me now?”