Maine town puts moratorium on wind energy projects

DIXFIELD, Maine (AP) — Residents of a Maine town are calling for a six-month moratorium on wind energy projects.

Quincy, Massachusetts, firm Patriot Renewables LLC asked Dixfield, Maine officials three years ago about building 13 wind turbines on a mountain ridge. The town’s selectmen approved a Wind Energy Facility Ordinance in 2012 and began revising it in January 2013.

The Sun Journal (https://bit.ly/1oYL6Zr ) reports the six-month moratorium is to allow the selectmen to finish the revisions. Residents voted 89-7 in favor of the moratorium on Thursday evening.

Patriot Renewables is conducting wind tests, bird studies and environmental impacts on the ridge. Town Manager Carlo Puiia says the moratorium and ordinance will provide the town “more local control” of wind energy projects.

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Information from: Sun-Journal, https://www.sunjournal.com