Morning Sentinel
WINSLOW: FPL hopes for final OK on dam issue
By COLIN HICKEY
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 12/18/2007

WINSLOW -- FPL Energy has received the OK to breach the Fort Halifax Dam from the Army Corps of Engineers, Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

But the Winslow Planning Board is a different matter.

Last week planners for a second time asked FPL Energy to provide more information about certain aspects of its planned partial removal of the hydroelectric dam on the Sebasticook.

FPL Energy will try again Jan. 10.

"We have to go through it systematically," planner W. Elery Keene said, "because there is a lot to this. There is a lot more to this than other items we have to process."

Keene was one of the three planners -- Michael Parker and Milton Poulliot were the others -- who voted that FPL Energy's application was incomplete.

Roy Strahan and Richard Browning disagreed.

Strahan said he questions what he sees as an effort to delay the inevitable.

"I think some of the responses (to the dam removal plan) got a little carried away," he said. "I just wanted to bring it to head, so we can do something with it."

Strahan said the Planning Board has the right to put conditions on some aspects of the project -- but not until planners accept the application as complete.

F. Allen Wiley of FPL Energy said his company is getting frustrated by the delay in getting board approval.

"We are just hopeful that the goal posts don't keep moving every time we meet," Wiley said.

At the same time, Wiley said he is optimistic about the next meeting.

"It is our expectation," he said, "that the meeting on the 10th will resolve any outstanding issues."

Keene realizes that the Planning Board's charge is simply to ensure the project adheres to town ordinances.

"We want to make sure we get answers to all the questions," he said, "but we also want to be fair to FPL Energy. We don't want to ask them for things that are not within our responsibility."

Keene said the energy company has been cooperative.

"I think they are trying to be methodical and prompt in getting the information to us that we have asked of them," he said.

Wiley said FPL Energy is working on answers to the latest round of questions.

"Our goal is to have it to (the Planning Board) 15 days prior to the next meeting," he said.

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Reader comments

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DJ of Winslow, ME
Dec 18, 2007 4:41 PM
When is our "spaghetti Gov." going to get his head out of the salad! He preaches renewable energy sources and turns his back to what we now have that is being removed. Perhaps the fisherman will share their catch with the Governor. Renewable energy sources should not be REPLACED!!!report abuse
RB of south china, ME
Dec 18, 2007 10:12 AM
FPL has stated they want partial removal of the dam. Of course it will be cheaper for FPL but they also stated recently that partial removal woud allow them to rebuild the dam in the future. Now they say it's to expensive to put in a fish ladder BUT maybe they can restore the dam with a fish ladder at a latter date. The only reason they would rebuild is if it would make them more money. Money is what it's all about. Keeping clean energy is not. Jim is right, they are not friends of Winslow or clean energy. Neithet are the people who want the river open and the dam removed.report abuse
Bo Gusname of Gardiner, ME
Dec 18, 2007 8:25 AM
I trust the Planning Board will require FPL to remove the entire dam and power house and restore the site to its natural condition. The Town of Winslow doesn't need a historic old brick building and an eye sore partial dam to maintain. These structures if allowed to stay, will become a constant hazard to the public as well as a reminder of the out of state company that owns one of Maine's critical infrastructures.report abuse
Jim of Baltimore, MD
Dec 18, 2007 6:34 AM
FPL needs to answer the questions first. They get "frustrated", think how frustrated the rest of the town will be cleaning up this mess they are creating. They have created energy pollution problems all over this country. They are not our friends.report abuse

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