Stetson Wind project expands near Danforth

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    First Wind broke ground near Danforth Monday afternoon to begin construction for the expansion of its Stetson Wind project during a ceremony that included state and local political officials, environmentalists and community residents.     The expansion of the wind farm on Owl Mountain Road, T8 R3 MBPP, will augment the 38 current turbines with 17 more bringing the total number of wind turbines to 55. Combined with the original Stetson Wind project which began commercial operations in January 2009, Phase Two increases the total project’s  capability from 25.5 MW to 82.5 MW.
    Despite a small number of protesters at the access to the ground-breaking ceremony, State Rep. Everett  McLeod, Sr. (R-Lee) said “that’s their right. It’s what America is all about. I don’t see any reason for people to squawk anytime we can unhook from a barrel of foreign oil. We’d better be looking
at ways to do that. And, this is one of those ways.”
Contributed photo
BIG BLADES — Blades arrive by truck at the site of Stetson II. In the background turbines for Stetson I can be seen in operation.
    Although the operation has only netted Danforth storage fees for parts and equipment so far, Town Manager Francis Grey said “overall, the windmill business has been welcomed by the majority of the people here and they look at it as a positive thing in terms of job opportunities and employment.”
    Grey did say with the turbines only operating in the unorganized territories and not in the town, some people have told him they hope First Wind will find a suitable spot in Danforth for some of its operations.
    Also on the plus side, Grey commented that the town got a temporary bump in personal property valuations because the company stored parts and equipment in Danforth over the last two years. In 2008 the value of the equipment, according to Grey, was about $35 million and about $2 million in 2009 which  benefited the town.
    State Sen. Kevin Raye (R-Perry) stated he was glad Washington County was playing a role in clean energy development. “It represents another important step forward in Maine’s continuing effort to promote home-grown clean renewable energy that lessens our dependence on fossil fuels from foreign sources.”
    Chris Gardner, chairman of the Washington County Commission, praised the expansion: “From the beginning, First Wind stood firm in their partnership with the people of Washington County to not only bring a new industry, but more importantly a new opportunity to this entire region.”
    McLeod, in his interview with the Pioneer Times, also expressed praise for the expansion. “Phase  Two means a lot to my constituents because it is creating jobs and the cleanest energy we know of. Washington County is going to receive benefits for decades to come.”
    Jack Parker, president of Reed & Reed, said his company “has worked with the local subcontractors and the local service providers and we have enjoyed our relationship with the local community. We expect this project to move ahead and to provide a safely constructed, quality, on-time, on-budget wind power project.”
Contributed photo
DIGGING IN — First Wind broke ground Monday near Danforth in unorganized territory to start construction on the second phase of its Stetson Wind project. From left are Matt Kearns, vice president, First Wind; John Kerry, director, Maine Office of Energy Independence and Security; State Rep. David Burns (R-Whiting); Chris Gardner, Washington County Commission chairman; State Sen. Kevin Raye (R-Perry); Jack Parker, Reed & Reed president; State Rep. Everett McLeod, Sr. (R-Lee); Ryan Chaytors, First Wind; Paul Gaynor , CEO First Wind.
    First Wind’s CEO, Paul Gaynor, said “the groundbreaking demonstrates the importance of the recent Recovery Act funding, which has allowed us to reinvest funds to accelerate this project’s construction. Today’s groundbreaking and the jobs it is creating would not be happening without the Recovery Act tax credits granted to us earlier this fall.”
    First Wind, an independent wind energy company based in Massachusetts, has six wind projects operating or in development in Maine.