Redington Update

Maine Audubon Lauds LURC Commissioners for Denying Redington Wind-Power Project

The state’s largest wildlife conservation organization commends the commissioners of Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission for their 6-1 decision today to deny a permit for a controversial wind-power project sited in a high-mountain Western Maine area zoned for protection and home to rare wildlife.

In no way does this decision prevent Maine from developing wind-power projects in appropriate places.

"Today we have seen LURC’s commissioners take action for which all Maine citizens can be grateful: They have upheld the laws that protect unique, spectacular areas in Maine," said Jennifer Burns, staff attorney and advocate for Maine Audubon.

Read Maine Audubon's statement on the LURC decision

Thank You

Thank you to all who wrote or called LURC, and particularly to all who were able to attend the hearings in August or the meeting today.

Denying the project was the right decision—a decision that upholds laws protecting Maine’s unique, spectacular areas.

Maine can develop wind power and protect wildlife.

It’s critical to reduce the use of fossil fuels that contribute to global warming, and to do that through energy conservation and clean-energy alternatives. Maine Audubon strongly supports wind-power as one of those alternatives.

But Maine doesn’t have to sacrifice valuable habitat and rare wildlife that make the Redington area so special. This decision is not the end of wind-power in Maine. Promising projects are in the planning stages, and you will hear more from us about them.

Maine Audubon will continue working with wind-power developers and other stakeholders to help developers consider the needs of wildlife in their planning, and to make it easier for Maine to approve wind-power projects, with fewer conflicts.

Read how Maine Audubon is working to help wind-power projects get approved in Maine.