When the average bear thinks Maine, unspoiled, all natural is what the inside setting reads.
On how the outside surroundings hit a person not used to all this space, jaw dropping beauty. But wind generators in Maine happen. When a place like Big Rock Ski area in Mars Hill gets the row of blinking red lights. Used to warn silver birds, planes descending into PQI that wind beaters are up ahead, it may not cause as much of a stir. Because broadcast towers, commercial activity from the slopes lit up for night time snow skiing is already on the connecting the dots of the landscape.
But to suddenly see the same very tall white slowly turning props churning the wind on a Mt Katahdin would stop you dead in your tracks.
To think that is just not right. NIMBY’s don’t want it where they call home. Easy to not really have a strong opinion either way. When the shadow, flicker or low rattle and hum of the turning wind generators in Maine are far far away.
When the unorganized areas get considered, less locals to object. But too far out in the willy wags, boonies and the cost to build all those transmission lines to carry the juice to market. Factor in with all the permits because of extra sensitive development templates lowered over the wind projects in Maine that are off the beaten path locations.
In Oakfield Maine, the “Switzerland of Aroostook County” there is lots of First Wind activity.
The road building, woods clearing, loads of gravel, concrete and construction work hitting high gear. A fevered pitch to get those wind towers up, running. Generating power courtesy of Mother Nature’s blustery gusts.
Lit in blinking flashing eye popping red for all to see. That was never there before piercing the velvet black, dark sky of Southern Aroostook County. It all takes getting used to something new, man made. The moving forward of work projects, newsprint, broadcasts and social media PR all creating a local grapevine whirl wind buzz.
Power harnessing the wind that gets shipped down the big fat hanging wires. To large consuming markets elsewhere outside Maine. The locals, voters in Oakfield Maine were supportive of the wind project. The not so happy campers along the Pleasant Lake front. Waterfront property owners in nearby Island Falls, not showing their teeth so much in the smile department. After the sting of losing a court battle to stop the wind projects in Southern Aroostook County.
Oakfield Maine residents get an annual check to accept the partnership between town and wind generation with the big GE turbines.
Have to admit the spill over of the Oakfield Maine wind towers into visibility of the pulsating red light spilling across Drews Lake in Linneus, New Limerick was a shocker. Eye wide opener when known it was coming. The west end of Drews Lake AKA Meduxnekeag Lake is technically in Oakfield Maine.
Sometimes you don’t know how something will hit you until up to the edge, brink of it arrives. Everything actually gets thrown into gear.
When the popping the clutch gets dumped. Here we go. All is in place to throw the switch.
Progress happens, and the change is inevitable like it or not. But Maine’s simple way of living, being tucked way up here in the upper right hand corner has always caused less stir. Fewer ripples over the years. We are left alone, way way off the main arteries of the heavy, in the thick of things traffic.
Protected, easy to forget, under populated Maine means peace and serenity.
Less change, fewer people, more acres of woods, water, wildlife. Away from the major consuming markets of everything. Off radar sweeps. All helps insulate, preserve what many that don’t travel the longer hike north forget is up here in Maine.
I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker
207.532.6573
info@mooersrealty.com