Wind Power Site Selection

Independence Wind identifies, secures, and develops sites where there are strong wind resources on high ridges and in ocean environments with reasonable proximity to existing transmission infrastructure, but not in places that will trigger the organized public opposition that has thwarted other New England projects. The size of the projects will vary, but most will have potential of 30-100 MW capacity.

Once sites have been secured, the Company completes the necessary studies of wind strength and prepares the plans necessary to meet environmental siting requirements and utility grid connection standards. After Independence Wind has made substantial progress in defining these elements, they secure financing to support the capital investments required to install wind turbines and to begin generating the clean, renewable energy that New England needs.

There are quite a few wind power sites in Maine with significant potential, but not nearly as many as a lot of people believe. Technological improvements in turbine design have brought wind power to a range of cost that can compete with other energy sources, but only where there is substantial wind—less than 2% of Maine has such steady winds—and only where the requirements for development can avoid conflicts and extraordinary costs.

Independence Wind only selects wind power sites that meet all important criteria. Perfect characteristics in one category cannot offset unsatisfactory scores in another category. In other words, only sites that achieve acceptable ratings across the board will be pursued.

Key criteria:

• Wind strength is the most critical factor, and less than 2 percent of the state has sufficient wind.
• Suitable terrain includes a proper orientation (north-south) to Maine's west-northwest prevailing wind direction on land, sufficient scale to allow multiple turbines, and reasonable slope, accessibility, and construction conditions.
• Proximity of existing electrical transmission capacity is essential, due to the high costs of constructing many miles of new transmission lines.
• Avoidance of unique wildlife habitat, locations of threatened species, or critical plant habitats.
• Acceptability to local communities includes separation from permanent dwellings, avoidance of prime recreation areas, and accommodations to support the interests of people in the community.