Maine residents living in unorganized territories need this information.

In 2008, many rural residents found their communities abruptly rezoned for industrial wind development without their knowledge or participation. This year, the Legislature passed a law creating a process that allows residents in UTs to remove themselves from the so-called “Expedited Permitting Area” where industrial wind development has been fast-tracked. UT residents have only six months to take advantage of this opportunity; the opportunity will be gone after June.

If UT residents want to regain the ability to have a say in development plans for their communities, they must make use of this temporary avenue for removal from the permitting area.

UT residents who are registered to vote in Maine may petition to remove from the Expedited Permitting Area all or part of the community in which they are registered. Petitions must be filed on an official form developed by the Land Use Regulation Commission, signed by at least 10 percent of the number of registered voters residing in that community who voted in the most recent gubernatorial election, and received by LURC between Jan. 1 and June 30.

For more information or to start this process, contact Tim Beaucage by email at Timothy.Beaucage@maine.gov; by phone 287-4894; or at 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building 4th floor, Augusta, ME 04333.

There’s no time to waste. People who want to be involved in the future of their hometowns must get involved now.

Karen Bessey Pease

Lexington Township