LePage seeks to scrap wind energy goals
Gov. Paul LePage’s administration has submitted a bill to scrap ambitious wind energy production goals approved during former Gov. John Baldacci’s administration, saying the power generation goals are unrealistic and don’t help the state.
The Associated Press reported wind energy advocates said the bill is an attack on renewable energy and could discourage wind investments. The state’s goals call for 2,000 megawatts of wind energy generation in Maine by 2015 and 3,000 megawatts by 2020, enough to power about 900,000 homes. The state now produces around 450 megawatts of wind energy and has others in development, like First Wind’s 62-turbine Bingham project that could generate nearly 200 megawatts. To get to 3,000 megawatts, the AP reported the state would need around 600 more wind turbines.
The governor’s bill has support from the anti-wind group Friends of Maine Mountains and also has support of Senate Democratic Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash, who is a co-sponsor. Patrick Woodcock, head of the Governor’s Energy Office, told the AP that removing the generation goals would not have an impact on development, as demand for wind power generated in Maine remains strong in southern New England states with ambitious renewable energy goals.
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