Wiscasset vote turned on doubts about coal (Maine)

[jpak]

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=147525&ac=PHnws

Members of Maine's business development community, as well as Gov. John Baldacci, say the rest of the state and companies that may be interested in moving here should not overreact to Wiscasset's rejection of a coal gasification plant.

Although the $1.5 billion Twin River Energy Center project promised to bring hundreds of jobs to the state and significant tax revenue to the town, the Election Day decision was not an anti-development vote, they say.

Officials say the decision by Wiscasset voters was driven by questions about the effect that such a plant would have on the environment.

Twin River officials said the project would have created 750 construction jobs over the four years it would have taken to build, and about 200 full-time operational jobs once the plant went on line.

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note: this project would have been built at the site of the former Maine Yankee Nuclear plant (closed due to costly repairs in 1997, the spent fuel still there)

[jpak]

1. Kick

Just to make sure everyone sees this and is not taken in by charlatans repeating the lie-meme that "Maine-replaced-nuclear-with-coal"...

[phantom power]

2. On the other hand, they don't exactly know what they *do* want to do.

Although they've got a "concept" about wind, or solar. Or something. Maybe.

In the meantime, Richardson, who also serves on Brunswick's Local Redevelopment Authority, and his colleagues are investigating the feasibility of green energy projects -- relying on Maine's renewable resources.

The authority's officials have endorsed building a renewable- or green-energy center at the Brunswick Naval Air Station.

Executive Director Steven Levesque said the center, which is still purely conceptual, would use wind, the sun and alternative fuels to generate energy.

"We need to find new ways of generating power in this state. Is coal gasification the best option? I have no idea," he said.

[jpak]

3. Ummm...we most certainly do know exactly what to do

Maine generates 55% of its electricity from renewable resources (hydro and biomass) and exports 34% of what it produces to southern New England.

There are 746 MW of new wind turbine capacity under development and permit review in Maine (42 MW now on-line) and 30-50 MW of new/uprated/reopening biomass capacity coming on line in the next 2 years.

and there are plans for 10-13 tidal power projects in the state...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13561656/

The project you refer to is the redevelopment of Brunswick Naval Air Station (which will close in 2011). Plans regarding its future are still in the works but a renewable energy park is one of the options.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=107602&ac=PHnws