Bills seek to toughen wind power permitting

Three bills proposing tougher restrictions on permitting for wind power projects in the state showed support from rural residents and resistance from industry officials during hearings Thursday.

The Bangor Daily News reported that hearings on bills that would change parts of Maine's Wind Energy Act of 2008, which expedited permitting for wind power projects, were held. One bill would create more opportunities for local opposition to wind project siting, one changes the venue for appeals and the other would remove certain towns from the state's expedited permitting area for wind power developments.

The paper reported that the four-hour hearings on LD 247, LD 385 and LD 616 brought out support from rural residents, especially those in Carrying Place Township, Concord Township, Highland Plantation, Lexington Township and Pleasant Ridge Plantation, which LD 616 would remove from the state's list of expedited permitting areas.

LD 247 aims to allow appeals of wind power permits awarded by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection or the Board of Environmental Protection to be filed in Superior Court rather than the Maine Law Court; LD 385 would allow for more public hearings about specific projects and strengthen mitigation standards.

The proposals drew opposition from the Maine Renewable Energy Association, which said the 2008 law changed wind permitting for the better and provided wind developers with a permitting and appeal process similar to other large energy projects regulated by the Maine Public Utilities Commission.

The paper reported that the Maine State Chamber of Commerce also testified against the bills, saying that existing regulations offer consistency and stability for wind power developers.