The Jan. 2 column “Transmission necessary part of clean power” by Jeff Marks shows that he knows the importance of increasing renewal energy production as well as working to strategically locate transmission lines. Marks understands the importance of “early and on-going engagement with impacted stakeholders” to ensure that “communities and rate payers are not harmed” by the construction of a proposed wind installation in Aroostook County (or elsewhere).

Since I, too, want to see a decrease in fossil fuel use, I followed Longroad Energy’s process of meetings in Aroostook County. It seemed the company held many meetings with residents to discuss the least-impactful location to site the wind installation. However, Longroad Energy failed to be as considerate when deciding how best to transmit the power from the source to the grid. None of its meetings considered the loss of farmland associated with massive cutting to transmit that power downstate.

Given the increase in population that Marks mentions, farmland needs to be protected. The bumper sticker “No Farms; No Food” sums that up perfectly. Hopefully the PUC’s decision to terminate Longroad Energy’s original proposal will allow time to evaluate the many ramifications of this important renewable energy project.

Linda Woods

Waterville