Jonathan Carter, at left, of Lexington, a member of the Citizens Task Force on Wind Power, listens to the speakers during the informational meeting Thursday night, Nov. 19, at Highland Plantation where 49 wind turbines are proposed to be built by Independence Wind Power of Cumberland Foreside. (Laura Dunham photo) HIGHLAND PLANTATION — Officials from Independence Wind LLC of Cumberland Foreside held their third informational meeting Thursday night, Nov. 19, with Highland Plantation officials and residents. Jodie Dunphy, the plantation’s assessor, welcomed former governor of Maine Angus King and Robert Gardiner, owners of the wind power company. The small, one-room former schoolhouse was filled to capacity with some people standing.

There were also several members of the Citizens Task Force on Wind Power on hand including Jonathan Carter from Lexington, Dr. Monique Aniel, Cathy Mattson and Barbara Arsenault from the Roxbury-Rumford area, Ed and Melisa Buzzell from Detroit, Greg Perkins of Houlton along with Lauri Sibulkin of Phillips.

King told those present that in about two weeks he and Gardiner will be taking their application for the construction of 49 wind turbines on Stewart Mountain across Burnt Hill in Highland Plantation to LURC for approval.

“It will be a long process, possibly six months. The permit has taken us two years to prepare because the land, about 22,000 acres, is managed by the Wagner Corporation,” said King.

“At least,” said King, “the money to prepare the documents has been spent in Maine.”

King said that the $250 million project will hopefully be built in 2011.

Carter and his wife, Dorothy, who live in Lexington, were concerned with just what effect the construction of 49 wind turbines would have on the value of their property, especially the lights that would pulse off and on all night and could be seen from their home. King said that based on most studies he has seen, the wind turbines would have no impact on the value and as far as hurting the tourism in the area, King suggested that many people would possibly come just to see them.

Carter said he was a supporter of wind power but only if they develop it off shore, stating that Maine mountaintops are unique places and ecologically sensitive. He added that the folks in Highland Plantation are being offered a small amount of tax abatement, the developers stand to make millions and the mountains will be de- spoiled forever adding, “what a deal for the developers.”

But King and Gardiner outlined the benefits of the wind power project that will help many in Somerset County, with Independence Wind paying some $450,000 in County Tax along with 90 percent of the taxes for the residents of Highland Plantation. The wind power owners would also pay the delivery charge (about $50) a month on everyone’s light bills.

Greg Perkins, a member of the Task Force, who is concerned about the noise level and has a camp near the proposed project, questioned what the wind power company would do about the 10,000 gallons of fluids that would have to be changed from the turbines. “We certainly are not going to let it go on the ground and will make the proper maintenance,” Gardiner told Perkins.

Carter said he had a friend who had a place on Jim Pond who said he could see the lights some 31 miles away at the Kibby Wind Power Project and said it looked a lot “like the Portland Jet Port.”

King said they have three reasons why they chose Highland Plantation for this project: (1) great winds, (2) the turbines will be located away from homes, and (3) there is already a transmission line leading to the Kibby Project that they can hook into.

William Lombard of Pleasant Ridge said that “once we use up the fossil fuels they are gone forever and wind power is the way to go.”

Gardner said that the pads for the wind turbines would be 24 feet in diameter and all the rocks taken out will be used for the gravel roads leading to the project. The access road would come in from Pleasant Ridge.

Carter said he and his wife were worried about their quality of life and how it would be changed by the Highland Plantation project and suggested that King and Gardiner should take their $80 million that they are going to make and put it into weatherization for people in Maine. He also said that “telling the people of Highland Plantation their light bills would be paid and they would pay no taxes was a bribe.”

Dr. Monique Aneil, cochairman of the Task Force, told King that many of the wind power projects have littered their mountains with turbines causing severe destruction, “Now you’re trying to destroy this area.”

King and Gardiner said that everything has a downside and admitted that in Mars Hill and at Kibby there had been problems with a mountaintop being blown off and mud slides and hoped that his company had learned by these mistakes. King said that when he and Gardiner started the company some three years ago, the first thing they did was to meet with those against the wind power in Mars Hill.

Lauri Silbulkin of Phillips said he had been going door to door most of the day on Thursday talking with people about the project and suggested that King and Gardiner should put their project on hold and wait and see how the Kibby Project works out. “No one was ever injured by delaying a project,” said Sibulkin who added that Avon and New Vineyard officials have also been approached about wind power projects.

Basil Dunphy, who was born in Highland Plantation, and his wife, Jo, who has lived there for 47 years, feel privileged to be part of the clean energy revolution and said that town officials had looked into ways to help with the tax burden. Jo said that the town has to pay some $67,000 in school taxes and $40,000 just to plow and sand the roads and they have no businesses to help with the tax base.

There are about 23 families in Highland Plantation that encompasses about 36 square miles.