Maine Public Utilities Commission approves wind energy project

The Maine Public Utilities Commission approved a 72.6 megawatt (MW) wind power project in Hancock County, Maine.

The long-term contract is with Weaver Wind, a subsidiary of Longroad Development Partners. It is expected to be operational no by December 2020. The 22-turbine, 72.6 MW wind energy facility will be located in the Towns of Eastbrook and Osborn in Hancock County. The turbines are expected to be about 600 feet tall with 14 in Osborn and eight in Eastbrook.

The contract price is 3.5 cents/kWh, increasing at 2.5 percent per year. The commission directed Emera Maine to purchase the power from Weaver Wind.

“This 20-year contract should create real ratepayer benefits for Maine,” Commission Chairman Philip Bartlett said.

This is the second contract for renewable energy the commission has approved this year. Back in February 2019, the commission approved a contract with Three Rivers Solar, a 100 MW project. The pricing for this project was similar to the Weaver Wind project. Both of these contracts stemmed from a Request for Proposals the commission issued soliciting bids for capacity resources, available energy, and renewable energy credits.

The Weaver Wind project was approved unanimously. It had been delayed due to prior concerns about its impacts on birds and bats, Windwatch.org reported, and after a previous developer went bankrupt – was granted development permits in May by the state Department of Environmental Protection.