- Introductory matters
- Purpose of the meeting
- Next meeting
- Meetings to discuss identification of areas for expedited permitting
- Commissioner Littell not in attendance
- Lunch
- Discussion of efforts to identify area for expedited permit review
- Potential additions to the report
- Economic benefits analysis
- Analyzing progress periodically and looking at other models if progress is insufficient
- Discussion of major issues identified with the report
- Approach to scenic issues
- Capitalizing on offshore potential
- Bird and bat methodologies
- Tangible benefits
- Goals
- Other?
- Discussion of other issues identified with the report
- Recommendations for assisting with wind power issues on tribal lands
- Commissioner Littell’s modifications
- Scheduling meetings for Wednesday and Thursday
- Other?
January 9, 2008
Maine Forest Service Bolton Hill Facility
Augusta, Maine
AGENDA
Focus of Meeting:
- Report from the Community Wind Subcommittee
- Updated Results of Bob Grace Study
- Approach to clarification of Noise, Bird & Bats standards and protocols
- Ideas to maximize benefits to Maine communities
9:00 - 9:10 Introductory Matters
Review of Agenda, Focus of Meeting
9:10 - 9:45 Report from Community Wind Subcommittee
9:45 - 10:15 Ideas for maximizing benefits to Maine communities
Break
10:30 - 10:50 Proposed Approach to Clarification of Noise, Bird/Bat standards and protocols
10:50 - 11:45 Updated results of Bob Grace Study
11:45 - 12:30 Process to develop a report, meeting dates, next steps.
12:30 to 1:00 Public Comment (unless taken either during discussion)
1:00 Adjourn
December 18, 2007
Rm. 126, State House
Augusta, Maine
AGENDA
Focus of Meeting:
- Moving toward consensus on what to recommend to the Governor regarding the permitting of grid scale wind power facilities
8:00 - 8:15 Introductory Matters
Update on the Bob Grace study
8:15 - 12:30 Working toward consensus on permitting of grid scale projects
Public Comment taken either during discussion or at the end of this period
12:30 - 1:00 (If time) Discussion of how to address topics identified in draft Report
Outline
Next Steps
1:00 Adjourn
December 7, 2007
Rm. 126, State House
Augusta, Maine
Focus of Meeting:
- Continued discussion straw proposals concerning permitting of grid scale wind power facilities
- Discussion of the structure of a draft outline of a Task Force Report
- Discussion of Topics in the Outline, and steps to complete the Task Force's work
9:00 - 10:00 Introductory matters, Overview
Big picture of goals and tasks in the Executive Order
Update from Community Wind Subcommittee
Comments by Prof. Delogu
10:00 - 12:00 Discussion of Straw Proposals concerning permitting of grid-scale facilities
12:00 - 12:45 Lunch Break
12:45 - 2:45 Outline on Report, Key Topics
Review of draft outline as working document
Discussion of Topics in Outline, determination of steps to complete
Encouraging siting in appropriate areas/locations
Maximizing benefits to Maine people
Financial Incentives
Goals; planning
2:45 - 3:00 Break
3:00 - 3:30 Public Comment
3:30 - 4:00 Next Steps, next meeting
4:00 Adjourn
Directions to the State Capitol Building
Show Map
Directions from I-95
- Driving North: Take Exit 109 onto Western Avenue.
- Driving South: Take Exit 109A onto Western Avenue.
- Proceed through 6 sets of lights to Memorial Circle.
- Take the 1st exit off the circle, for disabled parking, proceed south through the first traffic light and take a right at the next light. For other parking, take the right onto Capitol Street at the first light.
- On Capitol Street, you will pass the State Capitol Building and Cross Office Building on the left, parking is available to the left or right.
- You may park in the parking garage or in an adjacent lot. Do not park in the spaces reserved for Legislators.
November 16, 2007
Rm. 126, State House
Augusta, Maine
Focus of Meeting:
- Continued discussion of issues and options concerning permitting of grid-scale wind power projects
- Discussion of approaches to maximizing benefits to Maine citizens and communities
9:00 - 10:00 Introductory matters
Update from Community Wind Subcommittee
Report on potential application of alternative assumptions by Sustainable
Energy Advantage (Bob Grace)
Video
10:00 - 10:45 Discussion of different approaches to permitting issues
10:45 - 11:00 Break
11:00 - 12:15 Continued discussion of different approaches to permitting issues
12:15 - 1:00 Lunch Break
1:00 - 2:15 Discussion of approaches to maximizing benefits to Maine
2:15 - 2:30 Break
2:30 - 3:15 Public Comment
3:15 - 4:00 Next Steps, next meeting
4:00 Adjourn
October 30, 2007
Rm. 126, State House
Augusta, Maine
Goals for this meeting:
- Listen to a summary of an analysis by Robert Grace
- Discuss issues and options associated with siting and permitting of large scale wind power facilities; to identify the most promising options and develop them further, and to determine next steps for the November 16 meeting
9:00 - 9:15 Introductory matters
9:15 - 10:45 Presentation by Bob Grace
Questions
10:45 – 11:00 Break
11:00 - 12:00 Discussion of Issues and Options associated with siting and
permitting of large scale wind power facilities
12:00 – 12:30 Lunch Break
12:30 - 1:45 Continued Discussion of Issues and Options associated with siting and permitting of large scale wind power facilities
1:45 – 2:00 Break
2:00 - 3:00 Public Comment
3:00 - 4:00 Additional Task Force Discussion as a result of public comment
Next Steps, next meeting: Additional information needed? Assignments to staff?
4:00 Adjourn
September 26, 2007
Rm. 126, State House
Augusta, Maine
Goals for this meeting:
- Provide information about the DEP and LURC processes;
- Hear comments from a range of interests about their perceptions of the process and ideas for improvement;
- Determine next steps in evaluating ideas for improvement and/or change in siting processes
9:00 to 9:30 Introductory Matters
9:30 to 12:00 Presentations by DEP and LURC concerning their permitting
processes
- Presentation concerning DEP processes, DEP Commissioner David Littell, questions by Task Force members and others present
- Presentation concerning LURC process, LURC Director Catherine Carroll, questions by Task Force members and others present
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch Break
1:00 - 1:30 AMC's Wind Power siting analysis of Maine mountains,
David Publicover, AMC
(We will hear this presentation before lunch if time permits)
1:30 - 2:30 Comments concerning perceptions of existing permitting processes, ideas and proposals for improvement or change.
2:45 - 4:00 Discussion by Task Force members:
- Discussion of ideas put forward
- Identification of ideas the Task Force wishes staff and/or subcommittees to develop further
- Other next steps
- Schedule of upcoming meetings
Adjourn
September 10, 2007
Rm. 126, State House
Augusta, Maine
9:00 to 9:15 Review of question framing the discussion, and goals for this meeting:
Question framing September meetings: How can we build 1000 (or 2000) MW of Wind Power without unreasonable impacts?
Goals for this meeting: Develop a common understanding of:
- What types of wind power development are financially feasible in what types of locations at this time (both utility scale and scale scale)?
- Are technological advances likely to change this picture in the near future?
- What benefits could wind power have for Maine rate payers and communities?
- What could broaden the range and scope of wind power projects that are feasible?
- To what extent does the existing transmission system limit the development and transmission of wind power? What is being done and/or could be done to address these issues?
- What are existing financial incentives for wind power development (other than RPS, which has been described)? How do these apply to projects of different scales? Are there additional or different incentives to consider?
9:15 to 10:30 Utility Scale Wind Power Development Panel
Matthew Kearns, Director of Project Development, UPC Wind Management
John Zimmerman, President, Vermont Environmental Research Associates, Inc.
- Financing methods, challenges, incentives.
- What types of locations do developers consider wind power development to be financially feasible at this time in light of wind speeds/construction costs? What other factors can make projects viable?
- Are advances in technology likely to change this picture?
- Is access to transmission an issue? And, if so, how?
- What policy recommendations/approaches might the TF consider concerning transmission, financial incentives, any other policies addressing financial barriers?
Questions, Task Force identification of ideas it may wish to consider further.
Break
10:45 - 12:00 Small Scale Wind Development Panel:
Prof. George Baker, Harvard Business School
Gore Flynn, Business Development and Finance Consultant
Ron Kreisman, Environmental Attorney
- Range of small scale projects
- Potential benefits
- What types are economically feasible in what circumstances at this time?
- Barriers to small scale wind development
- What could be done to remove barriers to community wind? What policy recommendations might the Task Force consider?
Questions, Task Force identification of ideas it may wish to consider further.
1:00 - 2:00 Wind in the Context of Regional Markets:
Kurt Adams, Chairman, Public Utilities Commission
- Overview of the most recent ISO report
- Wind the in the Context of Regional Energy Markets
- Activity in Maine concerning transmission to regional markets
2:00 - 2:30 Opportunity for Public Comment
2:30 to 4:00 or (earlier completion) Task Force Discussion and Next Steps
Summary of ideas the Task Force has identified for father consideration, discussion of next steps (assign to staff, assign to subcommittee(s)?)
Preparation and agenda for September 26 meeting (focusing on permitting and siting issues).
Adjourn
August 3, 2007
Rm. 209, Cross Office Building
Augusta, Maine
9:00 am |
Welcome and recap of last meeting |
Alec Giffen |
9:10 am |
Review of agenda |
Alec Giffen |
9:15 am |
Comments on notes of last meeting |
Todd Burrowes |
9:20 am |
Distribution of discussion of revised versions of:
- Mutual Understandings
- Work Plan
And, follow-up on the Questionnaire |
Ann Gosline and Drew Parkin |
10:00 am |
Discussion of issues and questions to be addressed based on the distributed earlier materials |
Facilitated by Ann Gosline and Drew Parkin |
10:45 am |
Break |
|
11:00 am |
Continuation of discussion on issues and members views on where the Task Force can make the greatest contribution |
|
12:00 pm |
Lunch |
|
1:00 |
Presentations
|
Moderated by Ann Gosline |
2:30 pm |
Break |
|
2:45 pm |
Public Comments |
Facilitated by Ann Gosline and Drew Parkin |
3:45 pm |
Next steps |
|
4:00 pm |
ADJOURN |
|
July 20, 2007
Rm. 209, Cross Office Building
Augusta, Maine
9:00 am |
Welcome |
Alec Giffen |
9:10 am |
Introductions |
All |
9:30 am |
Review of the purposes for the Task Force and how it is expected to operate.
- Three phases of the project – draft preliminary work plan:
- Draft ground rules
- Facilitation
- Finding funding needed
|
Alec Giffen |
10:00 am |
Review of work already underway
- Briefing book
- Annotated bibliography
- Analyses
- Website
- Draft questionnaire
- Plans for second meeting
|
Todd Burrowes |
10:45 am |
Break |
|
11:00 am |
Discussion of approach |
Alec Giffen |
11:30 am |
Panel on project perspectives |
Facilitated by Drew Parkin – Invited to Present:
Chip Ahrens, Pierce Atwood
Jim Keil, Stantec
Harry Brown, Maine Interfaith Power & Light
Suzanne Sayer |
12:30 pm |
Working Lunch – informal discussion of issues (State House Cafeteria is available to get lunch) |
|
1:30 pm |
Panel on landowner perspectives |
Facilitated by Drew Parkin – Invited to Present:
Ted Johnston, Resource Policy Group
Don Flannery, Maine Potatoe Board
Roger Milliken, Baskahegan Co. |
2:30 pm |
Break |
|
2:45 pm |
Comments – Members of the public who requested an opportunity to address the Task Force |
Facilitated by Drew Parkin |
3:15 pm |
First thoughts on issues and how to address them (Note – This topic will be revisited as the Task Force work proceeds) |
Facilitated by Drew Parkin |
4:15 pm |
Next steps |
|
4:30 pm |
ADJOURN |
|
