First Wind seeks huge project permit to generate green energy in Maine

Comment: County Leaders, we want jobs like building WindMills or Solar Panels, not uranium mining!

First Wind filed an application permit with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for a project that will power more than 20,000 homes using wind energy.

The wind project will be in the town of Oakfield in Aroostook County and will consist of up to 34 turbines with the capacity to generate a total of 51 MW of electricity.

It may also have positive effects in the local economy by lowering taxes and employing residents for its construction, the company said in a statement.

"Maine continues to foster the development of renewable energy, and we are excited to continue work to provide indigenous renewable and clean wind power," said First Wind's Vice President of Development for New England Matt Kearns, in a statement Wednesday.

First Wind owns two more wind projects in the state; the 42 MW Mars Hill Wind project in the same county and 57 MW Stetson Wind project in Washington County - which will be expanded with an extra 25.5 MW facility.