A BROADER CLIMATE VIEW

A review of the climate-change effects of the Moosehead Lake development proposed by Plum Creek Timber Co. is useful not for its specifics, but for the point it raises, which is that the environmental impacts of building projects go beyond the destruction of wildlife habitat and the siltation of streams. Where development is located, for example, can have significant climate-change consequences. Getting policymakers first to consider these consequences and then to find ways to minimize them is critical as Maine and the country have pledged to reduce climate-altering emissions.

Earlier this week, Environment Northeast released its assessment of the carbon emissions from Plum Creek’s proposed 14,000-acre development around Moosehead Lake. The group calculated that just clearing the land to make way for the proposed house lots, lodges and other development would emit more than 200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is about one-third the yearly emissions from the oil-fired Wyman Station in Yarmouth. The emissions come from the removal of trees, which sequester large amounts of carbon.

The group noted that if Plum Creek adopted smart growth principles, such as clustered development rather than spreading it out, the emissions could be significantly reduced. The group did not consider the company’s accompanying conservation plans, which would protect more than 400,000 acres from development, but would still allow timber harvesting in much of the easement area.

While Plum Creek agrees that climate change is an issue worthy of regulatory consideration, it points out that the Land Use Regulation Commission does not have a mechanism to do this.

“GrowSmart raised the issue of global warming in the Plum Creek case because land use development and global warming can no longer be looked at as two separate and unrelated issues,” said GrowSmart President Alan Caron. The group is an official intervenor in the Plum Creek proceedings but has not taken a position for or against the project, including the Environment Northeast assessment in its testimony.

“Global warming will almost surely have a greater impact, over time, on the environment and economics of this region than will this development by Plum Creek,” he added.

People are familiar with efforts to reduce emissions by reducing power consumption and generating electricity from renewable sources or improving vehicle fuel economy or driving less. Connecting emissions to where a home or resort is located is less intuitive, but just as necessary. This is especially true in a state that needs more residents and more economic development.

Finding ways to further the state’s economic needs without undue climate change results is a worthy endeavor.