Maine Audubon Leading Process to Speed Approval of Wind-power Projects in Maine

FALMOUTH, Maine, July 26, 2006 -- Maine Audubon has been working with energy developers and representatives of state and federal agencies to develop a process that could speed approval of wind-power projects proposed in Maine.

Since summer 2005 the organization has convened a series facilitated meetings in order to produce standard, statewide guidelines that consider the needs of wildlife when developing wind-power projects in Maine. The guidelines will be finalized this winter

“Based on Maine Audubon’s many years negotiating complex wildlife-conservation issues, we decided to address wind-power development out of the spotlight, in a setting where different points of view could be carefully considered,” says Maine Audubon wildlife ecologist Jody Jones. “As a result, we have had excellent participation in this project. People have been passionate about it.”

According to Judy Gates, who originally participated in the group while working for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and is now assistant director of the environmental office at the Maine Department of Transportation:

“This is a very collaborative and professional process that includes a broad range of interests. Maine Audubon has brought together the best available biologists and wildlife ecologists, who drew on nationwide experiences with this type of development. Their perspective—together with the perspectives of wind-power advocates, developers, legal minds, and regulators—hopefully will result in what can be considered the state of the art for wind-power impact assessments.”

Gates also notes that the stakeholder process “acknowledges the critical need for renewable energy, aligning with Governor Baldacci’s support for properly sited wind power.”

Like almost every other type of significant development in Maine, wind-power development is subject to general state regulatory standards. But the standards are not specific to projects like wind-power facilities that can pose unique threats to wildlife.  Depending on where in Maine wind-power developers propose a project, different pre- and post-development studies and monitoring protocols may be required by local jurisdictions, the Department of Environmental Protection, or Maine’s Land Use Regulation Commission.

Not having specific guidelines that address wildlife issues can actually make it harder for wind-power developers in Maine to gain approval for their projects, notes Chris Herter, a participant in Maine Audubon’s stakeholder project and president of Linekin Bay Energy Company in Freeport, a wind-power developer. Herter said that achieving some clarity and consistency for the process could actually help expedite it because the regulators, applicants, and other interested parties would not have to stop to reconsider every new step along the way.

Chip Ahrens, another stakeholder project participant, has represented Maine state environmental agencies as deputy attorney general and is a Portland-based attorney for developers including one proposing a major wind-power project. He said one highly important outcome expected from the Maine Audubon stakeholder process will be to help  clarify improvements needed in the complex regulatory and permitting matters wind-power developers must address. 

Another participant in the stakeholder group is Tom Hodgman, a biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “It’s very important that there is a common understanding statewide of the potential consequences of the impacts of wind power on wildlife,” he said, adding that it would be appropriate for wind-power developers to be able to ask the department for wildlife guidelines. The stakeholder process will help make that possible.

“Wind power and habitat protection are not at odds: Maine can have both,” said Audubon ecologist Jones. “And Maine Audubon is helping Maine have both.”

MAINE AUDUBON works to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation and action.

Support for Maine Audubon comes from its 11,000 members and supporters, including individuals, foundations and corporations. Members are automatically members of their local Maine Audubon chapter and National Audubon Society, Inc., of which Maine Audubon is an affiliate. Contributions to Maine Audubon are used only in Maine.

For more information or to become a member of Maine Audubon, call (207) 781-2330 or click here.

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