Wind Power Problems In Maine

As most consumers know, energy prices have gone through the roof last year. There is only so much fossil fuel in the world, and that supply may, in fact, be running thin. Most people don’t realize there are different grades of oil. The type that is best for transportation (cars, beses) and power generation is limited. Throw in the impact of pollution, issues of climate change, and there is a new motivation to seek alternative energy sources.

Wind power can be a great renewable energy source. Most countries have wind, so supply is usually not a problem. The conversion of wind energy to electricity produces no pollution, a great fact for electricity consumers. For environmentalists however, there may be more to the equation.

The State of Maine seems to be made for wind power generation. Excellent conditions abound for producing electricity through wind in Maine, due to the varies and sometimes extreme terrain. Citizens of Maine, with the cooperation of their local governments have recognized this and begun the processto generate power from wind, by building wind farms. Five wind farms are planned as of this writing. When completed, they will produce over 40 percent of the electrical needs of the state, under ideal circumstances.

Unfortunately, this new commitment to wind power (through large-scale wind farms) is causing environmentalists some headaches. Wind farms tend to take up significant space. They also need to be in open areas where the wind is not blocked by buildings and other similar structures. Thus, the available areas to locate wind farms in Maine tend to be open wilderness, homes for rare and threatened animals.

Environmentalists are usually pro clean energy, but what about when these windfarms threatens species of animals and their habitats? If wind power farms are not allowed in Maine, how can it be argued that they’re a viable energy technology? At this point, there is no real answer to this dilemma. The decision to or not to build windmill farms in Maine may well decide the future for wind power for the whole U.S.