After reviewing the Department of Environmental Protection analysis of the Bingham wind project, I felt like the state was being bought out by First Wind to put in the largest wind farm in the state.
The project will permanently affect four separate deer wintering areas, with a total of 21.54 acres. First Wind proposed to minimize the impact of one deer wintering area by using single pole structures in a 21-foot-wide corridor through the it. What about the other three deer wintering areas?
Unfortunately, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife accepted a one-time benefit package of $37,550 that it said would offset the impact to the deer wintering areas. Without the wintering areas for our deer in this area, the herd will not survive a Maine winter.
The Maine Natural Resource Conservation Program also accepted $600,087 from First Wind, even though the program does not require any compensation.
Any state department or program of the state that represents the people of Maine should not accept money from any corporation. It is a true conflict of interest.
Sportsmen of Maine were sold out. We’re going green.
Richard HarrisFairfield
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