State: Poll of Mainers finds few opposed to wind farm

Portland Press Herald
Business Briefs
July 14, 2006

Supporters of a proposed wind farm near the Sugarloaf ski resort have released the results of a survey showing strong support for the project.

A poll of 400 Maine residents found that 65 percent of those surveyed support the 90-megawatt Redington Wind Farm, while only 7 percent oppose it. Twenty-eight percent of respondents had no opinion.

The poll was conducted in the spring by The Potholm Group of Harpswell.

Maine Mountain Power is seeking a permit from the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission for construction of 30 wind turbines atop Redington Pond Range and Black Nubble Mountain. LURC has scheduled a public hearing on the project for Aug. 2 through 4.

Some environmental groups, including Maine Audubon Society and the Appalachian Mountain Club, oppose the wind farm.

The project is a joint venture of Endless Energy Corp. of Yarmouth and Edison Mission Group of Irvine, Calif.