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- Western Maine’s first wind farm, being developed by Maine Mountain Power (MMP), will produce clean, renewable electric
power from 30 modern wind turbines.
- It will generate about 250 million kilowatt hours a year, enough to power 40,000 Maine homes.
- The wind turbines are placed on 260 foot tall tubular towers. Three 150 foot long blades on each turbine will rotate at a leisurely 9 to
19 rotations per minute—about once every four seconds.
- The project will be constructed on the Redington Pond Range and Black Nubble mountains, approximately four miles west of
Sugarloaf Mountain ski area and eight miles south of Stratton, Maine.
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- The site is in the Carrabassett Valley region, near existing roads, power lines, and other developments (like Sugarloaf USA),
which minimizes environmental impacts.
- The mountain has an excellent wind resource and an unusually long and level north-south ridge.
- Redington Mountain is surrounded by actively managed timberlands and the U.S. Navy survival school.
- A power line will be constructed so as to minimize visual and environmental impacts as much as possible. The project will connect
to the grid on Route 27 west of Sugarloaf Ski area.
- Twelve miles of existing logging roads will be refurbished, and about twelve miles of new roads will be constructed to access the wind farm.
- Wind power provides a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel generation, decreases reliance on foreign fuels, and
dramatically reduces air pollution and global warming gasses.
- The deregulated electricity market allows customers to choose renewable energy options. Power is being offered to municipal,
commercial and industrial customers under long-term contracts at a declining real cost.
- The project will benefit the Carrabassett Valley region by contributing taxes, creating jobs, and providing an ecotourism attraction.
- Over the past decade the price of producing electricity from wind has dropped dramatically and is now competitive with other sources of energy.
- Endless Energy Corporation and Edison Mission Energy.
- Endless Energy Corporation is a Maine-based wind energy company formed in 1987.
- Edison Mission Energy is the fifth largest owner of wind projects in the US with 477 Megawatts at 10 sites in four states.
- EEC, which owns the site through an affiliate, began conducting environmental studies and wind measurements for the project in 1993.
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- The single largest environmental benefit of the Redington wind farm will be the tremendous amount of pollution prevented compared to other energy sources.
- The Redington project will prevent more than 800,000 pounds of pollution per day from existing power plants in New England— equivalent to taking 26,000 cars off the road.
- A power plant would have to burn 50,000 gallons of oil a day to produce as much power.
- Initial clearing for the project will be about 307 acres - the equivalent of 61 five-acre house lots. 220 acres of this will be allowed to revegetate after construction.
- Biologists have collected data which show that the project will have minimal to no impact on important wildlife or plant communities.
- Soils and water quality will be protected by using best management practices for road and power line construction.
- The project will be visible from Sugarloaf, numerous logging roads and snowmobile trails, a few points on the Appalachian Trail,
and Route 16. Surveys indicate that threequarters of local residents, skiers, snowmobilers, hunters, and hikers are supportive or neutral regarding the project.
- The $150 million Redington Wind Farm project will contribute approximately $500,000 in annual taxes to the state and local economy.
- It will create approximately 100 jobs during its year-long construction. These workers will stay in area hotels, dine in local restaurants and make a major contribution to the area's economy.
- After construction, there will be about 5-10 direct permanent jobs at the facility. Maine Mountain Power is committed to hiring and buying supplies locally whenever possible.
- The Redington Wind Farm will conduct regular visitor tours that will help support the local recreation and tourism-based economy.
- Over 900 acres of land we own near the site will remain available to local hikers, skiers, hunters and snowmobilers.
- The Redington Wind Farm will give preference to local towns, hospitals and schools in the area to purchase the electricity produced at the facility. The power will be sold in 10-year fixed price contracts, providing a more stable energy supply than the power produced by traditional fossil fuel plants.
- MMP filed a permit application with the Land Use Regulation Commission and Department of Environmental Protection in
2005. If approved, the project will be constructed in 2007.
- A public hearing will be held August, 2006. To help the project, please sign our supporter’s list.
- Throughout the development and permitting process, we welcome your comments, questions and feedback. Please contact us for additional information.
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