Underlying Interests

Based on discussion at meetings to date, staff has developed the following draft list of the Wind Power Task Force's underlying interests for purposes of review by and solicitation of comments from the Task Force, which has not approved the list: 
* Reduce CO2 emissions and alter air emissions such as Mercury, SOx and NOx from power production, and avoid other negative effects of energy production from non-wind sources.  
* Move toward energy independence from price variability and linkage with the price of fossil fuels.
* Move toward energy independence in terms of availability of essential energy resources.
* Maximize economic benefits of wind projects to communities and the state.  
* Protect neighbors from undue impacts, especially noise, flicker and strobe effect.
* Protect and avoid and minimize effects on populations of birds and bats.
* Protect unique and fragile natural communities and rare, threatened and endangered species.
* Protect other aspects of environmental quality, as for other types of development.
* Protect Maine's special sense of place.
* Have a regulatory process that is predictable in terms of:
­ Information needed;
­ Tests for approval; and 
­ Time to process.
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