from matc this morning:
Last week, we told you that MATC joined the A.T. Coalition along with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Appalachian Mountain Club. The purpose of the A.T. Coalition was to advocate on behalf of the Appalachian Trail with regard to the Bingham wind project introduced by Blue Sky West, a subsidiary of First Wind.
As a result of misinterpretations reported in the press, we have received calls and emails from members of the greater Appalachian Trail community. Members of the A.T. Coalition felt it was important to correct these inaccuracies.
We have submitted the following Letter to the Editor to the Bangor Daily News, Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel and Portland Press Herald.
Please share with friends or colleagues who may have questions.
February 21, 2014
To the Editor:
We write to correct misinformation in a recent news report regarding the Bingham wind project, which incorrectly stated that Appalachian Trail organizations now support that project in return for future land conservation.
We do not typically lend institutional support to development projects that have the potential to impact resources of concern to our organizations, and it is inaccurate to say we ”support” this project. We agreed to “not oppose” First Wind’s Bingham project, and First Wind voluntarily agreed to help mitigate for their project’s visual impact to the Appalachian Trail.
We acknowledge that visual impacts of the project are expected to affect the Appalachian Trail, but at a distance greater than eight miles. Maine state law, the Wind Act of 2008, does not allow consideration of visual impacts beyond eight miles in the state’s permitting process. Our organizations have tried to bring this law up to date since turbines have dramatically increased in size, but the legislature has not been so inclined to date.
In recognition of our concerns for future protection of the Appalachian Trail, First Wind voluntarily agreed to provide a dedicated escrow fund of $700,000 to be used for Appalachian Trail land protection in Maine.
None of that funding is provided to our coalition organizations. First Wind also agreed not to erect additional towers closer to the trail than already proposed. Further the company will minimize nighttime light pollution from required aircraft warning lights by installing radar-activated lighting once the Federal Aviation Administration certifies its use by wind farms.
We believe this agreement provides the best achievable protection for Appalachian Trail resources.
The wind power policies of our organizations can be found on our respective websites at www.matc.org, www.outdoors.org and www.appalachiantrail.org.
Sincerely,
Lester Kenway
Maine Appalachian Trail Club
Kenneth D. Kimball
Appalachian Mountain Club
Ron Tipton
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Last week, we told you that MATC joined the A.T. Coalition along with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Appalachian Mountain Club. The purpose of the A.T. Coalition was to advocate on behalf of the Appalachian Trail with regard to the Bingham wind project introduced by Blue Sky West, a subsidiary of First Wind.
As a result of misinterpretations reported in the press, we have received calls and emails from members of the greater Appalachian Trail community. Members of the A.T. Coalition felt it was important to correct these inaccuracies.
We have submitted the following Letter to the Editor to the Bangor Daily News, Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel and Portland Press Herald.
Please share with friends or colleagues who may have questions.
February 21, 2014
To the Editor:
We write to correct misinformation in a recent news report regarding the Bingham wind project, which incorrectly stated that Appalachian Trail organizations now support that project in return for future land conservation.
We do not typically lend institutional support to development projects that have the potential to impact resources of concern to our organizations, and it is inaccurate to say we ”support” this project. We agreed to “not oppose” First Wind’s Bingham project, and First Wind voluntarily agreed to help mitigate for their project’s visual impact to the Appalachian Trail.
We acknowledge that visual impacts of the project are expected to affect the Appalachian Trail, but at a distance greater than eight miles. Maine state law, the Wind Act of 2008, does not allow consideration of visual impacts beyond eight miles in the state’s permitting process. Our organizations have tried to bring this law up to date since turbines have dramatically increased in size, but the legislature has not been so inclined to date.
In recognition of our concerns for future protection of the Appalachian Trail, First Wind voluntarily agreed to provide a dedicated escrow fund of $700,000 to be used for Appalachian Trail land protection in Maine.
None of that funding is provided to our coalition organizations. First Wind also agreed not to erect additional towers closer to the trail than already proposed. Further the company will minimize nighttime light pollution from required aircraft warning lights by installing radar-activated lighting once the Federal Aviation Administration certifies its use by wind farms.
We believe this agreement provides the best achievable protection for Appalachian Trail resources.
The wind power policies of our organizations can be found on our respective websites at www.matc.org, www.outdoors.org and www.appalachiantrail.org.
Sincerely,
Lester Kenway
Maine Appalachian Trail Club
Kenneth D. Kimball
Appalachian Mountain Club
Ron Tipton
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
its all good
