AMC becomes involved in the permitting process for specific projects when they have the potential to impact ecological, recreational or scenic resources of state, regional or national significance that are of high interest to the club and our members, or when permitting decisions will set important precedents for future projects.  We have supported some projects and opposed others where we felt the impacts outweighed the renewable energy benefits.  On many other projects we have not taken an official position because we felt they were appropriately sited or because the impacts were to resources of primarily local concern.
 

AMC has been a formal intervenor in the following projects across our region:

Redington/Black Nubble (Franklin County, ME; 2006/2007).  AMC opposed this 30 turbine, 90 megawatt (MW) project in the Western High Mountains region of Maine between Saddleback and Sugarloaf mountains, which would have constructed turbines on the only unprotected 4000-foot summit in the state very close to the Appalachian Trail.  Our opposition was based on the impact to pristine high-elevation subalpine forest and Bicknell's thrush habitat, one of the largest roadless areas in the state, and the scenic character of one of the most remote and spectacular stretches of the Appalachian Trail.  We were joined in opposition by Maine Audubon, the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the National Park Service.  The project application was denied by Maine's Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC).

AMC testimony (original Redington/Black Nubble project)          AMC testimony (revised "Black Nubble only" project)

Kibby Mountain (Franklin County, ME; 2007).  AMC supported this 44 turbine (132 MW) project in the northern Boundary Mountains of western Maine.  While much of the project is located above 2700 feet in elevation, it successfully avoided impact to pristine subalpine forest and Bicknell's thrush habitat.  Our support was contingent on negotiation of a mitigation settlement agreement with the developer, under which three higher-value ridgelines in the project area were permanently protected from future wind power development, and funds were provided for conservation of additional high-elevation lands.  These funds were used to help conserve the Stowe Mountain tract in the Mahoosucs region of western Maine, which contains portions of the summit of Sunday River Whitecap and the Grafton Loop Trail.  AMC was joined in our position by Maine Audubon and the Natural Resources Council of Maine.  The project was approved by LURC.  

AMC testimony  

Stetson Mountain (Washington County, ME; 2007).  AMC supported this 38 turbine (57 MW) project in eastern Maine.  We felt that the project was appropriately sited on a lower elevation ridgeline containing common forest types that had already been heavily impacted by timber harvesting and road construction.  The project was approved by LURC.  

AMC testimony 

Granite Reliable Windpark (Coos County, NH; 2009).  This 33 turbine (99 MW) project was proposed for four ridges south of Dixville Notch in northern New Hampshire.  AMC supported development of the two lower-elevation ridgelines but opposed development of the two higher-elevation ridgelines because of impact to old-growth subalpine forest and habitat for several rare species including Bicknell's thrush and American marten.  We were joined in this position by the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game.  AMC and NHFG withdrew our opposition after negotiating a significant mitigation settlement agreement with the applicant that would permanently conserve 1,700 acres of high-elevation land in the project area and provide funding for additional habitat conservation.  The project was approved by the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee.

AMC original testimony          AMC update to testimony 

Kibby expansion (Franklin County, ME; 2010).  This 15 turbine (45 MW) expansion of the Kibby project was proposed for Sisk Mountain, located to the west of the original project.  AMC supported development of the northern half of the project but opposed development of the southern half because of the impact to pristine subalpine forest, Bicknell's thrush habitat and the outstanding scenic quality of the Chain of Ponds.  We were joined in this position by Maine Audubon and the Natural Resources Council of Maine.  After LURC indicated its intention to disapprove the project, the developer amended its application, reducing the project to 11 turbines.  AMC and its partner organizations opposed the amended project, feeling that it did not sufficiently reduce the project's impacts.  However, LURC approved the smaller project.

AMC testimony 

Highland Plantation (Franklin County, ME; 2011).  This 39 turbine project is located southeast of Bigelow Mountain.  AMC has intervened in the permitting of this project, and has joined with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to present a common position.  We have serious concerns about the impact of parts of the project on the scenic character of a particularly significant portion of the Appalachian Trail.  A public hearing on the project is scheduled for July 2011.

In addition, AMC has submitted comments on the following projects:

Groton Wind (Grafton County, NH)

Deerfield Wind (Green Mountain National Forest, Bennington County, VT)