Wind power in Maine

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Location map/multi". Template:Side box

There are a number of wind power projects in the state of Maine, totaling more than 900 megawatts (MW) in capacity. In 2020 they were responsible for 24% of in-state electricity production.[1] In 2019, Maine had more wind capacity than the other five New England states combined, at 923 MW.[2]

The largest wind farm is the Bingham Wind Farm in Kingsbury Plantation, with an installed capacity of 185 MW.[3]

Overview

File:Net Wind Generation for the State of Maine, 2007 - 2018.png
Net Wind Generation for the State of Maine, 2007 – 2018
Maine Wind Generation Capacity by Year
<timeline>

ImageSize = width:280 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:36 bottom:20 top:10 right:10 AlignBars = justify Period = from:0 till:1100 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:250 start:0

PlotData=

color:pink width:20
bar:1999 from:start till:0.1 text:0.1
bar:2000 from:start till:0.1 text:0.1
bar:2001 from:start till:0.1 text:0.1
bar:2002 from:start till:0.1 text:0.1
bar:2003 from:start till:0.1 text:0.1
bar:2004 from:start till:0.1 text:0.1
bar:2005 from:start till:0.1 text:0.1
bar:2006 from:start till:9.1 text:9.1
bar:2007 from:start till:42.1 text:42.1
bar:2008 from:start till:46.6 text:46.6
bar:2009 from:start till:174.7 text:174.7
bar:2010 from:start till:266.2 text:266.2
bar:2011 from:start till:397 text:397
bar:2012 from:start till:431 text:431
bar:2013 from:start till:431 text:431
bar:2014 from:start till:440 text:440
bar:2015 from:start till:613 text:613
bar:2016 from:start till:901 text:901
bar:2017 from:start till:923 text:923
bar:2018 from:start till:923 text:923
bar:2019 from:start till:923 text:923
bar:2020 from:start till:996 text:996

</timeline>

Megawatts of Wind Capacity [2]

In 2008, then-Governor John Baldacci set a goal for the state of 2,000 megawatts of wind power installed by 2015 and 3,000 MW by 2020.[3] Since 2007 wind power generation has increased more than 16 times from 99 GWh generated for 2007 to 1623 GWh for 2016.[4]

As of the end of 2016, 901 megawatts of wind generation capacity had been installed in Maine and generated nearly 14% of the state's total electricity.[5] [6]

In January 2018, Gov. Paul LePage created a moratorium on all new wind power construction stating, “While out-of-state interests are eager to exploit our western mountains in order to serve their political agendas, we must act judiciously to protect our natural beauty."[7] Gov. Janet Mills ended the moratorium in February 2019 after she was elected governor.[8]

Operating wind farms

Mars Hill

File:Mars Hill Wind Farm 672336669 6d41098ae0 o.jpg
Mars Hill wind farm.

In 2006, First Wind Holdings, LLC developed the first wind farm in Maine on Mars Hill (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".). First Wind installed 28 GE 1.5 MW Wind Turbines at a cost of $85 million along the top and northern section of the mountain. The blades attached to the hub of the turbine are about 115 ft (35 m) long. This is small compared to the wind turbines available in 2026.

Beaver Ridge

The 3 turbine Beaver Ridge Wind Project is located in Freedom Maine(Script error: No such module "Coordinates".). It is owned and operated by Patriot Renewables and was commissioned on November 1, 2008.[9][10]

Stetson Wind

Stetson I

The Stetson I wind farm consists of 38 GE 1.5 MW wind turbines, with a total capacity of 57 megawatts, strung along the north-south ridge of Stetson Mountain (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".). It generates approximately 167 million kilowatt-hours (kW·h) of electricity per year and began commercial operations in January 2009.[11] First Wind received $40.44 million from the federal government to complete the Stetson I project which was one of twelve grants made to wind projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus program.[12]

Stetson II

In March 2009, the Maine Land Use Regulation Committee (LURC) approved First Wind's $60 million 25.5 MW Stetson II expansion. Seventeen turbines were installed on nearby Jimmy (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) and Owl (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) mountains.[13]

First Wind was bought by SunEdison and TerraForm Power in November 2014.[14]

Fox Islands

The Fox Islands Wind Power Project (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) is a 4.5 MW wind project consisting of three GE 1.5 MW wind turbines, providing power for North Haven and Vinalhaven Island. The $14.5 million project is expected to produce 11,600 megawatt-hours of electricity per year. Approved by a vote of 383–5 on July 29, 2008 by members of the Fox Islands Electric Cooperative, construction began on June 29, 2009, and the wind farm went online on November 17.[15][16][17] The project has significantly reduced rates on the island residents, who previously imported all their power from the mainland via a submarine power cable.[18][19] However, the noise generated by the turbines has caused considerable controversy on the island.[20]

University of Maine

In 2009, the University of Maine at Presque Isle installed a single 600 KW wind turbine on campus (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.[21] This turbine produces approximately 680,000 KWh per year and saves the university approximately $100,000 in energy costs each year. The turbine was damaged in a fire in April 2018.[22]

Kibby Mountain

File:Kibby Mountian Wind Turbines.JPG
Kibby Wind Power

The Kibby Mountain wind farm project—at a capacity of 132 MW[23]—comprises forty-four 3 MW wind turbines strung along the ridges of Kibby Mtn. (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) and nearby Kibby Range (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".).[24] is expected to generate about 357 million kilowatt-hours (41 MW·yr) of electricity annually. Half the turbines were put online in October 2009, and TransCanada completed the project in 2010.[25] The capital cost of the project is approximately US $320 million.[26] Work on clearing the site began by September 2008.[27] Kibby was purchased by LS Power through its affiliate Helix Generation in 2017.[28]

GSA

Two Northern Power Systems wind turbines were installed at the Jackman Land Port of Entry by the GSA to provide power for the U.S. border station (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".). The two wind turbines produce 200 kW and approximately 400,000 kWh per year. This provides approximately 50% of power required to operate the U.S. border station and saves the station from burning approximately Script error: No such module "convert". of fuel each year.[29] Construction began in April 2010 and the project went online in March 2011.

Spruce Mountain

File:SpruceMountainWF.jpg
Spruce Mountain Wind Farm

The Spruce Mountain wind farm consists of 10 Gamesa G90 2-MW wind turbines. The project is located in Woodstock Maine.(Script error: No such module "Coordinates".)[30]

Rollins Wind

In addition to the Stetson and Mars Hill projects, First Wind completed a 60 MW wind farm, with forty 1.5-MW turbines, on Rollins Mountain (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) and other hills in the Penobscot County towns of Lincoln, Burlington, Lee, and Winn.[31][32] The estimated cost is US$130 million.[33] First Wind was bought by SunEdison and TerraForm Power in November 2014.[14]

Record Hill

Record Hill Wind is a 50.6 MW wind project in Roxbury, consisting of 22 turbines arrayed along a four mile long north-south ridgeline connecting Record Hill, Flathead Mountain (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".), and Partridge Peak. The electrical output of the project is estimated to be approximately 160 million kW·h (18 MW·yr) per year.[34]

Bull Hill

A 34.2 MW wind project on Bull Hill (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) and adjoining hills in Maine Township 16 MD was built by First Wind and put online October 31, 2012. The $78.5 million project consists of 19 Vestas V100-1.8MW wind turbines.[35] First Wind was bought by SunEdison and TerraForm Power in November 2014.[14]

Oakfield Wind

The Oakfield wind project at 148 MW was completed in 2015. The project is located near Oakfield (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) and uses 48 Vestas wind turbines.[36][37]

Saddleback Ridge

The Saddleback Ridge wind project is a 34.2 megawatt, 12-turbine wind project located in Carthage, Maine.(Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) It uses GE's 2.85 MW wind turbines and was developed by Patriot Renewables.

Passadumkeag Windpark

The Passadumkeag Windpark is located on Passadumkeag Mountain near Burlington, ME (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".). It consists of 13 Vestas V112 3.0 series wind turbines with a rated capacity of 3.3 MW.[38][39]

Hancock Wind

The Hancock Wind project is a project developed by Novatus Energy which consists of 17 Vestas V117 3.0 MW turbines.[40] The project is located in Franklin Maine (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".). Hancock Wind currently has the tallest onshore wind turbines in the United States.[41]

Bingham Wind Farm

The Bingham Wind Farm was developed by Novatus Energy and is located near Kingsbury Plantation, Maine (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) and consists of 56 Vestas V112 3.3 MW turbines.[42]

Pisgah Mountain

Pisgah Mountain wind farm is owned by Pisgah Mountain LLC and operates five Vestas V90-1.8 MW wind turbines in Clifton Maine (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".). Seven local owners own 51% of Pisgah Mountain LLC and the remaining 49% is owned by SWEB Development USA a subsidiary of WEB Windenergie.[43]

Canton Mountain Wind Project

The Canton Mountain Wind Project consists of eight GE 2.85 megawatt wind turbines with 103 meter rotors on 85 meter towers. It was developed by Patriot Renewables, it is located in Canton Maine (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".), and went online in November, 2017.[44]

Offshore wind energy

File:Maine Offshore 90-Meter Wind Map and Wind Resource Potential.jpg
Average wind speed at 90 meters along the coast of Maine.

Offshore wind energy represents Maine's largest untapped natural energy resource, rated at 156 GW.[45] The University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center has led efforts to develop this resource with its patented floating wind turbine technology, VolturnUS.

In 2008, as a result of the Maine Ocean Energy Task Force, Maine established a renewable ocean energy goal, including the installation of 5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030.[46]

North America’s first offshore wind turbine was deployed in 2013.[47] The VolturnUS is a floating concrete hull design that can support a wind turbine in waters 45 meters deep or more. In 2013 a 1:8th scale VolturnUS hull with a Script error: No such module "convert". tall turbine was towed into Penobscot Bay near Castine, Maine where it was connected to the grid and tested for 18 months.[48] Following the successful deployment of the VolturnUS Maine Aqua Ventus 1, GP, LLC, is leading a demonstration project off Monhegan Island, ME called New England Aqua Ventus I using the same floating hull and turbine technology.[49]

Proposed wind projects

File:Maine Electricity Generation Sources Pie Chart.svg
Electricity generation sources in Maine

New England Aqua Ventus I

New England Aqua Ventus I is an up to 12 MW floating offshore wind pilot project that will be anchored off Monhegan Island at the UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site in Lincoln County. It will use a single 9.5 MW turbine mounted on the VolturnUS floating concrete hull. It is intended to demonstrate the potential for floating wind power on the New England coast.[45] Project participants include the Cianbro Corporation and the University of Maine.[45] In June 2019, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed into law LD 994, sponsored by state Sen. David Woodsome, directing the Maine Public Utilities Commission to approve a 20-year, long-term power purchase contract. That contract was unanimously approved by the Maine PUC on November 5, 2019, and signed by Central Maine Power (CMP) on December 20, 2019. New England Aqua Ventus I is anticipated to be the first commercial-scale floating wind project in the United States.

King Pine

The King Pine wind farm is planned to provide 1000 MW of power in Aroostook County. It is projected to begin construction in 2026 and will double Maine's wind power capacity, producing the equivalent of 27% of Maine's electric usage. Its developer Longwood Energy projects a cost of $2 billion. A new 345 kV tramission line will connect it to the ISO New England grid, and 40% of electricity will be purchased by utilities in Massachusetts.[50]

Wind projects

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".

File:Spruce Mt Wind in Fall.jpg
Spruce Mountain Wind Farm in the fall.
Maine Wind Turbines[51]
Name Capacity
(MW)
Number of Turbines Location
(county)
Developer Completed
Mars Hill 42 28 Aroostook SunEdison 2006
Beaver Ridge 4.5 3 Waldo Patriot Renewables 2008
Stetson I 57 38 Washington SunEdison 2009
Fox Islands 4.5 3 Knox Fox Islands Electric Cooperative 2009
University of Maine 0.6 1 Aroostook University of Maine 2009
Kibby Mountain 132 44 Franklin LS Power 2010
Stetson II 25.5 17 Washington SunEdison 2010
GSA .2 2 Somerset GSA 2010
Spruce Mountain 20 10 Oxford Patriot Renewables 2011
Rollins 60 40 Penobscot SunEdison 2011
Record Hill 50.6 22 Oxford Independence Wind 2012
Bull Hill 34.2 19 Hancock SunEdison / Blue Sky East 2012
Oakfield 148 48 Aroostook SunEdison 2015
Saddleback Ridge 34.2 12 Franklin Patriot Renewables LLC 2015
Passadumkeag Windpark 42.9 13 Penobscot Quantum Utility Generation 2016
Hancock Wind 51 17 Hancock County Novatus Energy 2016
Bingham Wind Farm 184.8 56 Somerset & Piscataquis Novatus Energy 2016
Pisgah Mountain 9 5 Penobscot Pisgah Mountain LLC 2016
Canton Mountain 22.8 8 Oxford Patriot Renewables LLC 2017

Canceled proposals

Redington and Black Nubble

File:Public Opinion Wind Farm Redington Mountain.jpg
Public opinion for a proposed wind farm on Redington Mountain

In 2005, Maine Mountain Power (MMP) filed an application with the Maine Land Use Regulation Committee (LURC) for a permit to develop a 30-turbine wind farm on Mount Redington (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) and neighboring Black Nubble (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".).[52] After years of contentious debate, the proposal was voted down by the LURC in 2007. The summit of Redington was seen as too ecologically sensitive — a sub-alpine fir habitat providing a home for two rare species, the bog lemming and Bicknell's thrush. Also, the development would have been visible for miles along the Appalachian Trail (AT).[53][54][55] A revised proposal, for 18 turbines only on Black Nubble, was put forward by MMP, supported by many environmental groups,[53][56] but still opposed by Maine Audubon.[57] The project was rejected by the LURC in 2008.[58]

Longfellow

First Wind proposed an installation on Black Mountain (Script error: No such module "Coordinates".) in Rumford.

The Longfellow project would have 16 turbines that could produce 40 MW of electricity, enough to power about 17,000 homes in the Northeast. The power would be sold to the New England power grid. The wind turbines would have been built on the west side of the mountain, away from the Black Mountain ski area.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". The developer placed the project on hold due to the strength of wind gusts in the area.[59]

Hywind 2

In April 2012, Statoil, a Norwegian multinational oil and gas company, received state regulatory approval to build a large four-unit demonstration floating wind farm off the coast of Maine called Hywind 2.[60] Statoil proposed building a 4-tower, 12–15 MW wind farm developed by Statoil North America for placement Script error: No such module "convert". off the east coast of Maine in Script error: No such module "convert".-deep water of the Atlantic Ocean. Like the first Hywind installation off Norway, the proposed turbine foundation was a spar buoy.[61][62]

The State of Maine Public Utility Commission voted to approve the construction and fund the US$120 million project by adding approximately 75 cents/month to the average retail electricity consumer. Power would have been flowing into the grid no earlier than 2016.[62]

Statoil placed Hywind 2 on hold in July 2013 as a result of new legislation (LD 1472) by the State of Maine. The legislation required the Maine Public Utilities Commission to undertake a second round of bidding with a different set of ground rules; that led Statoil to suspend the project due to increased uncertainty and risk.[63] Statoil ultimately abandoned the Hywind 2 project in Maine and developed Hywind Scotland instead.[64]

Community debate

A statewide poll in Spring 2007 by the Pan Atlantic SMS Group showed that 85% of Maine people supported wind power development.[65]

A 2009 poll conducted by Portland-based Critical Insights shows that 90% of Maine people support the development of wind power as a source of electricity. Nearly nine in ten Mainers agree that "wind power can improve energy security and reduce Maine’s dependence on fossil fuels, and eight in ten agree that wind power will produce jobs and other forms of economic benefits".[65]

In a 2010 statewide telephone poll of 500 registered voters, 88 percent supported wind power in Maine. Calls to residents in seven rural counties, from Aroostook to Oxford, where most wind power projects are built or planned, showed 83 percent support. Survey results show that Maine residents strongly support wind power development, chiefly because it cuts dependence on fossil fuels and creates jobs. The survey was done by Portland-based Pan Atlantic SMS Group for the Maine Renewable Energy Association.[66]

Some community opposition has arisen, in the form of litigation against mountain wind farms and an ocean wind turbine proposal, as civic activism, and as development of municipal ordinances.[67][68][69][70]

Wind generation

Maine Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh)[71]
Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2007 99 12 10 8 6 8 14 14 10 17
2008 133 17 12 12 11 9 7 7 7 10 14 14 13
2009 298 16 31 27 29 23 20 14 18 21 31 38 30
2010 500 38 40 44 33 40 26 31 21 30 70 59 68
2011 709 63 76 71 64 40 36 40 39 41 81 85 73
2012 779 106 97 84 82 48 55 50 44 61 96 58 104
2013 1,047 106 89 100 98 73 66 56 70 75 87 130 97
2014 1,098 121 101 120 103 66 67 67 46 82 106 126 93
2015 1,295 136 114 132 113 99 75 62 55 77 129 167 136
2016 1,668 164 157 138 128 107 117 105 113 106 144 163 226
2017 2,333 216 248 246 181 177 159 102 134 140 209 259 262
2018 2,384 272 223 279 192 173 149 124 101 134 248 240 249
2019 2,494 247 275 275 255 158 148 116 108 161 203 258 290
2020 2,140 179 209 264 262 238 123 92 136 192 197 248 254
2021 2,549 247 211 312 248 203 191 134 106 181 180 253 283
2022 2,455 292 274 296 285 198 171 170 117 171 196 287 285
2023 765 243 245 277
Maine Wind Generation in 2018
<timeline>

ImageSize = width:360 height:230 PlotArea = width:300 height:185 left:40 bottom:40 AlignBars = late

DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:300 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:month increment:75 start:0

TextData =

 pos:(5,210) textcolor:black fontsize:M
 text:GWh
 pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S
 text:Month

PlotData=

color:skyblue width:20
bar:Jan from:start till:258
bar:Feb from:start till:239
bar:Mar from:start till:257
bar:Apr from:start till:220
bar:May from:start till:187
bar:Jun from:start till:182
bar:Jul from:start till:143
bar:Aug from:start till:145
bar:Sept from:start till:152
bar:Oct from:start till:199
bar:Nov from:start till:212
bar:Dec from:start till:218

</timeline>

Maine Wind Generation in 2017
<timeline>

ImageSize = width:360 height:230 PlotArea = width:300 height:185 left:40 bottom:40 AlignBars = late

DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:300 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical ScaleMajor = unit:month increment:75 start:0

TextData =

 pos:(5,210) textcolor:black fontsize:M
 text:GWh
 pos:(175,25) textcolor:black fontsize:S
 text:Month

PlotData=

color:skyblue width:20
bar:Jan from:start till:217
bar:Feb from:start till:256
bar:Mar from:start till:244
bar:Apr from:start till:182
bar:May from:start till:175
bar:Jun from:start till:152
bar:Jul from:start till:96
bar:Aug from:start till:137
bar:Sept from:start till:140
bar:Oct from:start till:208
bar:Nov from:start till:261
bar:Dec from:start till:265

</timeline>

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. EIA state profile
  2. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Template:Cbignore
  4. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  17. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  18. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  24. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  26. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  34. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. Electric Power Monthly, December 2015. U.S. Energy Information Administration
  38. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  56. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
  59. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  68. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  69. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  71. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

External links

Template:Sister project

Template:Wind power in the United States Template:Energy in the USA Template:Portalbar