Window for removal of UT locations from expedited area

To the Editor:

In the last legislative session, LD 828, “An Act To Improve Regulatory Consistency within the Jurisdiction of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission”, was passed by the full Legislature and signed by the Governor on June 29, 2015.

Approximately 150 townships, plantations and municipalities in Maine under LUPC oversight are within Maine’s expedited permitting area for wind power development.

PL, Ch. 265 created a one time, six-month window (Jan. 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016) during which residents of these locations may petition the LUPC for removal from the expedited permitting area, subject to the provisions of the law.

Because of the limited period in which affected residents can exercise this option, I wanted to make you aware of its approaching effective date.  Once this window closes on June 30, 2016 there will be no means by which a location can be removed from the expedited permitting area other than through legislative action.

The LUPC has made a web page available to provide information and resources related to this process. It can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/lupc/projects/wind_expedited_area/wind_expedited.shtml

It is my hope that this information may be useful to our friends that reside in the UT.

Rep. Paul Stearns

District 119

Guilford