Nonprofit voices support for wind farm

PORTLAND – A nonprofit political group on Monday called on environmental groups to reconsider their opposition to a $150 million wind farm project proposed for western Maine.

Democracy Maine, founded last year to confront what it calls political extremism, said environmental groups that are opposing the project near Sugarloaf/USA ski resort are the same groups that have encouraged renewable energy sources over the years.

Robert C.S. Monks, a real estate developer and co-founder of the group, said it is time for America to reduce its reliance on foreign energy sources and to address global climate change.

He said opponents are showing “knee-jerk opposition” to a proposal by Maine Mountain Power to build 30 wind turbines on top of Black Nubble and Redington Pond Range mountains.

“Why aren’t the large environmental groups willing to stand up and support a major renewable energy project, exactly the kind of project they’ve been talking about for 20 years?” Monks asked.

The wind farm is being proposed by Endless Energy Corp. of Yarmouth, which is working with a California-based Edison Mission Group on the project.

The turbines would be located on 260-foot-tall towers and would generate enough power for about 40,000 households annually.

Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission earlier this month granted intervenor status to 13 organizations opposed to the 90-megawatt farm.

Groups including Maine Audubon, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Maine Appalachian Mountain Club say the project poses threats to rare species of plants and animals, while diminishing the scenic quality and backcountry experience in the region.

Harley Lee, president of Endless Energy, has said the project would result in removal of hundreds of thousands of pounds of pollutant a day by reducing reliance on traditional power plants.