Aroostook County in Maine goes Green, Exporting as Much Energy as it Uses

For example, since the early 1970s Aroostook County schools had discussed the importance of trees, and to plant as many trees as possible. They not only were nice to look at, but created natural windbreaks in the winter months, and could be used to heat homes, but also were putting oxygen back into the atmosphere. During the 1970s and 1980s Aroostook County lost over 1,000 acres of farmland to new tree planting. This was a huge amount of farmland, but the County farmers believed that it was very important.

In the late 1990s, some communities in the County started building waste wood chip burning power plants. Fort Fairfield actually has one, and it was the second one to be built in the State of Maine. It uses waste wood chips and waste wood products to burn, which in turn heats water to create steam to turn steam turbines which create electricity. This plant also uses waste wood from construction and demolition as well as wood chips. There are 5 plants throughout Maine, and they range in creating from 15 to 50 megawatts of power each. There are two in Aroostook County that supplies 43 megawatts. That again is enough to supply every home in the County.

In the last two years at Mars Hill Mountain has gone through the building and placement of 28 wind mills which is the largest in New England. This endeavor was an eighty five million dollar project. Each of these wind mills are 389 feet high and have 3 blades. I am friends with the gentleman who actually had the contract to build the buildings that were required, so along with the creation of less expensive energy, a green friendly source of energy, these wind turbines have created a lot of income in Aroostook County. When the wind turbines are working at 100 percent capacity they are capable of producing 42 megawatts of power, which will power 45,000 homes. There are only 38, 719 homes in the County. So every home can be powered by these 28 wind turbines. These turbines have also eliminated the need for 65,000 tons of oil, coal, or wood which are carbon dioxide pollutants when burned and another 350 tons of material.

Between The wind turbines and the waste wood plants that are creating power, Aroostook County actually exports as much power as it uses. The oil burning steam turbines at Caribou's power plant no longer ignite. There is no need to.

If Aroostook County Maine can find alternative energy sources, and has planted thousands of trees to help make our County more green friendly, then why is the federal government, and large city governments having such a hard time coming up with ways to cut costs, cut pollution and creating a place for trees and other items that create a greener America?