Downeast Wind December 19, 2019 Public Meeting Powerpoint

1. Follow Downeast Wind at www.downeastwindfarm.com
or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DowneastWind/

2. 6:00pm - Welcome and Introduction
6:10pm - Paul Williamson, Project Overview and Development
6:30pm - Marcel Mibus, Sound and Shadow Flicker
6:50pm - Amy Segal, Project Visibility from Scenic Resources
7:00pm - Goni Iskali, Environmental/Wildlife
7:20pm - John Boyle, Safety
7:40pm - Audience Q&A
8:00pm - Closing
Program

3. Downeast Wind
Project Overview

4. Confidential
Downeast Wind
Project Highlights
Name Downeast Wind
Location Town of Columbia and
Washington County, Maine
ISO Hub/Zone Maine Hub
Technology Wind
Turbine Vestas V150 4.2 MW
Nameplate Capacity 126 MW
Net Capacity Factor 38%
COD October 2022
• 100% site control, including TROW
• Strong wind and good constructability drive competitive LCOE
• One of the few utility-scale, competitive and permittable sites in
ISO-NE not requiring major transmission project upgrades
• Minimal environmental risks
• Strong local support; project will provide
income diversity and stability for landowners,
at a time when blueberry prices and wood
fiber are at an all-time low.
4

5. Downeast Wind Public Outreach
Outreach Dates
Open House May 17, 2016
Local Business Project Network reception June 8, 2016
Safety coordination meeting - Regional Fire, Safety, First Responders May 15, 2017
Public Open House and BBQ October 16, 2017
Community Mapping Meeting December 15, 2017
Schoodic Lake Project Information Meeting February 6, 2018
Public Information Meeting & Survey on Project Impacts/Benefits (23 respondents). February 7, 2018
Community Update Meeting February 8, 2018
Public Meeting: Survey of public feedback for Community Benefits and investments August 9, 2018
Columbia Approval for underground utilities October 15, 2018
5/21-29/19 Individual meetings with Schoodic Lake owners for lake owner improvement
investments
May 21-29, 2019
Public Open House June 11, 2019
Door to door outreach to get feedback on TIF and Community Benefits June 11-14, 2019
Ongoing outreach:
• Annual Airball Kids Basketball Tournament (March 2016-present)
• Attendance at Columbia Selectmen Meetings, Annual Town Meetings, and Washington County Commissioner Meetings.
• Windblade Challenge and Narraguagus School educational events.
• Events were publicized with direct mailing to local stakeholder, local flyers, ads in newspapers, and display on 4 Corners Shop
‘n Save Sign.
3

6. Confidential
Project Evolution
• Original concept used the edge of the esker and
open barrens along Baseline Road in Columbia and
Cherryfield.
• Project moved to western Columbia, and north with
Phase 2 into T-18.
• Original Project sought to maximize the generation
within the leased space ~200 MW, 55-57 turbines.
• Current Project design
• 30 Turbines, 126 MW
• Turbines relocated to reduce view shed on Schoodic Lake
and reduce use of grassland habitat.
6

7. Confidential
Previous Project Layout (#18)
7

8. Confidential
Current Project Layout (#34)
8

9. Confidential
Project Design Elements
• 30 4.2 MW Turbines, 125M (410 ft) Hub Height, 200M (656 ft) Tip Height.
• Consolidation of turbines north and south of Schoodic Lake to reduce
visual impact and use of grassland habitat.
• Radar-activated lighting system, no blinking lights when no local air
traffic.
• Reduced and controlled lighting on other facilities.
• All setbacks and sound standards meet Town of Columbia and MDEP
sound and setback standards.
• Schoodic Lake dwellings:
• No Turbine closer than 3,500 ft (.66 miles).
• Nearest visible turbine 7,500 ft (1.4 miles) from nearest dwellings.

10. Confidential
Decommissioning. An applicant must demonstrate adequate financial
capacity to decommission the proposed wind energy development if
required at any time during construction or operation of the development,
or upon termination of development operations. This must include a
demonstration that this financial capacity will be unaffected by any
future changes in the applicant’s financial condition.
1. Full decommissioning plan must be submitted and approved.
2. Site restoration and turbine removal to minimum of 2 ft depth.
3. Plan and Financial assurance must be re-valuated every 2 years.
4. Decommissioning obligations transfer to any new or future project owner.
Chapter 382: WIND ENERGY ACT
STANDARDS
Decommissioning

11. Confidential
Taxes and Community Benefits
Town of Columbia:
• $280,000 payment at time of construction for use for town infrastructure.
• $350,000 first full-year payment.
• $300,000 average annual payment over 20 years.
• $7.5M in payments for life of project.
• Will not have any impact on state aid and revenue share.
Washington County:
• $500,000 payment at time of construction for use for county
infrastructure.
• $350,000 to Schoodic Lake for property improvements.
• $527,000 first full-year payment.
• $460,000 average annual payment over 20 years.
• $11.5M in payments for life of project.
• Will not have any impact on state aid and revenue share.
Road use agreements: road improvements as a result of repair and
restoration of roads post construction.

12. Confidential
Economic Development
12
Downeast Wind is likely to bring more than $240 million in direct economic
benefits to the region over 30 years.
 Local Vendor and jobs fair prior to construction.
 Downeast Wind will produce enough clean energy to power 36,000 Maine
homes.
 During development and construction phases:
o $215,000 in annual landowner payments
o 104 direct construction jobs - $5M in payroll earnings*
o 171 local induced jobs - $8.4 M in payroll earnings*
o $85.3M in local spending through installation*
 Through operations (30 years):
o $4.2M in annual landowner payments
o 10 onsite jobs - $500,000 annual payroll*
o 84 induced jobs created by local revenue and spending impacts - $4.2M
annual payroll *
 (induced impact) total local and regional jobs to be created and/or
maintained through direct and “multiplier effects” (economic activity
induced by local spending of new wages generated by the project)*
*Calculated by NREL The Jobs and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) models

13. Confidential
Next Steps
13
• Public information meetings,
gather public comment and
feedback.
• Finalize project design
• Complete tax and Community
Benefit agreements with town and
county.
• Prepare and submit Maine Site
Law Permit Application Q1 2020.
• MDEP Project Public Meeting.
• Interconnect process complete Q4
2020.
• Permit process complete Q1-2
2021.
• Construction Q4 2021-Q4 2022

14. Please write questions on provided index cards and pass to the end of the
aisles to be retrieved for the Q&A section of the program.
Questions

16. Turbine Siting and
Modeling

17. Confidential
Agenda
• Setbacks
• Meteorological Siting
• Sound
• Shadow Flicker
17

18. Confidential
Creating the Layout—Setbacks
Example 5-square-mile project area:
18
3

19. Confidential
Creating the Layout—Setbacks
Example 5-square-mile project area:
19
Apply municipal and infrastructure features—roads,
electricity, power lines, etc.

20. Confidential
Creating the Layout—Setbacks
Example 5-square-mile project area:
20
Apply environmental features: streams, wetlands,
bird flyways, etc.

21. Confidential
Creating the Layout—Setbacks
Example 5-square-mile project area:
21
Apply setbacks from property lines, homes, barns,
structures, etc.

22. Confidential
Wind Data
22
http://hint.fm/wind/

23. •Site Suitability
•Turbulence
•Wakes
Why We Study Wind Data
23

24. Confidential
Meteorological Data
On-site wind data
24

25. Confidential
How Does the Wind Change?
Wind Shear – how the wind changes with height
𝑣 ℎ = 𝛽ℎ 𝛼
25

26. Confidential
Full Site Modeling
26

27. Confidential
Takeaways
• A turbine is sited due to a combination of physical,
environmental, and meteorological reasons.
• Moving one turbine impacts every other turbine in the
project
27

28. Confidential
Sound

29. Physics of Sound
29
The ear is sensitive to a range of 20Hz to 20kHz
• Sound is a wave
• Amplitude
• Determines how loud
• Wavelength
• Determines frequency
𝜆 = 𝑐/𝑓, where c = speed of sound

30. Confidential
Sound Pressure Level
30
• Sound level describes the amplitude of the sound.
• Human ears are sensitive over an enormous range
of pressure: 20 micropascals to 20,000,000
micropascals.
• In acoustics, that large range is compressed using
a logarithmic function and converting pressure to a
sound pressure level denoted by dB or decibel.
20 µPa Sound Pressure (p) 20,000,000 µPa
0 dB Sound Pressure Level (Lp) 120 dB
𝐿 𝑝 = 20 × log10( 𝑝 𝑝 𝑟𝑒𝑓)

31. Confidential
Common Sound Pressure Levels
31
Image Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
http://www.nonoise.org/library/sndbasic/sndbasic.htm

32. Confidential
Sound Pressure Level & Human Perception
32
ChangeinSoundPressureLevel
20 dB
10 dB
3 dB
0 dB
Change of less than 2 dB in a broadband
sound source is generally considered not
perceptible.
Change of 10 dB in a broadband sound
source is perceived as twice as loud or half
as loud.
Change of 20 dB in a broadband sound
source is perceived as four times as loud or
a quarter as loud.

33. Confidential
Decibel Math
33
• Can 2 + 2 = 5?

34. Confidential
Decibel Math
34
• Can 2 + 2 = 5?
• Two of the same sources added together increase the sound
level by 3 dB:
30 dB + 30 dB = 33 dB

35. Confidential
Decibel Math
35
• Can 2 + 2 = 5?
• Two of the same sources added together increase the sound
level by 3 dB:
30 dB + 30 dB = 33 dB
• If the sound level difference is more than 9 dB, there is no
change:
30 dB + 40 dB = 40 dB
• When combining 1/3 octave bands to full octave bands (or
overall level), you must add each element together

36. Sound Frequency
36
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
Frequency (Hz)
SoundPressureLevel(dB)
Human Hearing Response Curve
Human Hearing Frequency RangeInfrasound Ultrasound
20 20,000
Chart Provided by RSG

37. Sound Frequency
37
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
Frequency (Hz)
SoundPressureLevel(dB)
Human Hearing Response Curve
Human Hearing Frequency RangeInfrasound Ultrasound
20 20,000
Chart Provided by RSG

38. Sound Frequency
38
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
Frequency (Hz)
SoundPressureLevel(dB)
Human Hearing Response Curve
Human Hearing Frequency RangeInfrasound Ultrasound
20 20,000
Chart Provided by RSG

39. Sound Frequency
39
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
Frequency (Hz)
SoundPressureLevel(dB)
Human Hearing Response Curve
Human Hearing Frequency RangeInfrasound Ultrasound
20 20,000
Chart Provided by RSG

40. Sound Frequency
40
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
1 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000
Frequency (Hz)
SoundPressureLevel(dB)
Human Hearing Response Curve
Human Hearing Frequency RangeInfrasound Ultrasound
20 20,000
Chart Provided by RSG

41. Frequency
41

42. Low Frequency Sound
42
Image Source: Moller H, Pedersen C S. Hearing at low and infrasonic frequencies. Noise Health 2004;6:37-57

43. •Low Frequency Sound
is all around
•Common sources
include: waterfalls
ocean waves,
human heart beats,
elephant, and whales
•Machinery such as
engines and air
conditioners
Low Frequency Sound
43

44. Low Frequency Sound
44
Image Source: Evans, T., Cooper, J., Lechine. Infrasound levels near windfarms and other environments.

45. How Do We Model Sound?
45
𝐿 𝑓𝑇 = 𝐿 𝑤 + 𝐷𝑐 − 𝐴
Octave-band Sound Pressure Level at Receptor
(sound level we are trying to determine)
Octave-band Sound Power Level from
Source
(sound from the
turbine(s))
Octave-band attenuation
during propagation
Directional Correction

46. Sound at Downeast
46
Apex Internal Modeling to be verified
by 3rd party for permit application
submission

47. Confidential
Takeaways
• Sound is a pressure wave with a variety of frequencies
and amplitudes
• The sound is modeled from all the turbines using the
international standard for noise modeling and is
independently verified by sound specialists.
47

48. Confidential
Shadow Flicker

49. •Shadow Flicker is caused by sunlight passing through the
rotor sweep area of the wind turbine
•Modern Wind Turbines have a light flickering frequency
below 1Hz.
•The amount of shadow flicker diminishes rapidly with
distance from the turbine, and should be minimal at
10RD from a turbine
What is Shadow Flicker?
49

50. Confidential
Why do the Lengths of Shadows Change?
50
L
0H
𝐿 = 𝐻/tan(𝛼)
Where, L is the Total Shadow Length
H is the height of the object
α is the sun elevation angle
Image Source: Mamia, I. & Appelbaum, J. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 55, 713–718 (2016).

51. Confidential
Why do the Lengths of Shadows Change?
51
L
0H
Image Source: Mamia, I. & Appelbaum, J. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 55, 713–718 (2016).
𝐿 = 𝐻/tan(𝛼)
Where, L is the Total Shadow Length
H is the height of the object
α is the sun elevation angle
Geometry of the Sun!

52. Confidential
Angle between the Earth and Sun
52
𝐿 = 𝐻/tan(𝛼)
sin 𝛼 = cos 𝛿 cos 𝜙 cos 𝜔 + sin 𝛿 sin 𝜙
Where,α is the sun elevation angle
δ is the declination of the earth axis
φ is the latitude
ω is the sun hour
𝛿 = 23.45 sin 360
284 + 𝑛
365
n is the day of the year
Image Source: Illinois Institute of Technology, D. Maslanka

53. Confidential
Earth’s Latitude
53
𝐿 = 𝐻/tan(𝛼)
sin 𝛼 = cos 𝛿 cos 𝜙 cos 𝜔 + sin 𝛿 sin 𝜙
Where,α is the sun elevation angle
δ is the declination of the earth axis
φ is the latitude
ω is the sun hour
Image Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/degree-of-latitude-and-longitude-distance-4070616

54. Confidential
Time of Day
54
𝐿 = 𝐻/tan(𝛼)
sin 𝛼 = cos 𝛿 cos 𝜙 cos 𝜔 + sin 𝛿 sin 𝜙
Where,α is the sun elevation angle
δ is the declination of the earth axis
φ is the latitude
ω is the sun hour
T is time of day (0:00 to 23:59)
Image Source: Mamia, I. & Appelbaum, J. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 55, 713–718 (2016).

55. Confidential
Sun Path Diagram
55

56. Confidential
Modeling a Turbine
56
500m
Minutes

59. Confidential
What Does this Assume?
• No Clouds or Fog
• Turbine Continuously Operates
• Turbine Perpendicular to the sun at all times
• No trees or buildings obscuring the shadow
• House windows in all directions
• Sun very diffuse at low angles
59

60. Confidential
Shadow Flicker at Downeast
60
50 hrs
40 hrs
30 hrs
20 hrs
10 hrs
Annual Shadow Flicker
(8760 hrs)
Apex Internal Modeling to be
verified by 3rd party for permit
application submission

61. Confidential
Takeaways
• We understand how to model where shadow flicker
could occur very accurately
• Shadow flicker is very specific to certain times of day
and months of the year.
61

62. Please write questions on provided index cards and pass to the end of the
aisles to be retrieved for the Q&A section of the program.
Questions

63. Downeast Wind
Visual Impacts

64. Visual Impact
Assessment
Yarmouth, Maine
Completed over 25 VIAs
35 years of experience in Maine
• Visual Impact Assessment
• GIS Mapping and Analysis
• 3D Computer Modeling
• Mitigation Planning
• Scenic Inventories and Assessment
• Site Planning and Design
• Master Planning
• Recreation Planning
• Permitting

65. Standard of Scenic Impact: determine whether the
development significantly compromises views from a
scenic resource of state or national significance such that
the development has an unreasonable adverse effect on
the scenic character or existing uses related to scenic
character of the scenic resource.
MAINE Wind Energy Act
65

66. • Significance of scenic
resource
• Existing character of
surrounding area
• Scope / scale of potential
effect on scenic resource.
• Expectations of the
typical viewer.
• Extent, nature and
duration of public use.
• Potential effect on
continued use and
enjoyment
Evaluation Criteria
66

67. • Review project data
• Research – SRSNS,
recreational use data,
locally sensitive resources
• Viewshed Mapping
• Fieldwork/Photography –
leaf on and leaf off
• 3D Computer Modeling
• Model Overlays
• Photosimulations
• Visual Impact Assessment
• Appendices: Mapping, Study
Area Photos,
Photosimulations
VIA Methodology
67

68. Scenic Resources of State or National Significance
68
An area or place owned by the public or to which the public has a
legal right of access that is…
A) National Natural Landmarks, federally designated wilderness areas, and other
outstanding natural and cultural features, such as the Orono Bog or Meddybemps
Heath. There are 14 NNL in Maine, designated primarily for their scientific (and not
scenic) value. NONE IN THE PROJECT AREA
B) A property on the National Register of Historic Places pursuant to the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (e.g., the Rockland Breakwater Light,
Fort Knox).
16 NRHP Structures and 1 Historic District WITHIN 8 MILES,
NONE WILL HAVE PROJECT VISIBILITY
C) A National Park or State Park, There are 3 units of the National Park System and
32 designated State Parks in Maine. NONE IN THE PROJECT AREA
D) Great Ponds that have been rated as Outstanding or Significant
Lakes and ponds previously identified as having highly significant scenic value in the
Maine’s Finest Lakes study, or designated as “outstanding” or “significant” from a
scenic perspective in the Wildlands Lakes Assessment.
Two rated great ponds within 8 miles: Mopang Lake and Upper Cranberry Lake.
NO PROJECT VIEWS FROM EITHER POND.

69. Scenic Resources of State or National Significance
69
E) A Scenic River or Stream identified as having unique or outstanding scenic
attributes, listed in Appendix G of the Maine Rivers Study.
Machias River, rated an ‘A’ River, including Scenic Resources.
Schoodic Brook is identified in the MRS, but not listed in Appendix G.
NO PROJECT VIEWS FROM EITHER WATERBODY
F) A scenic viewpoint located on state public reserved land or on a trail that is
used exclusively for pedestrian use, such as the Appalachian Trail, that the
Department of Conservation designates by rule adopted in accordance with section
3457.
Great Heath is Public Reserve Land but there are no designated scenic
viewpoints
NONE IN THE PROJECT AREA
G) A scenic turnout on a scenic highway constructed by the Dept of
Transportation.
There are two Scenic Byways within 8 miles: Blackwoods and Bold Coast.
NO PROJECT VIEWS FROM EITHER BYWAY
H) Scenic viewpoints located in the Coastal Area that are ranked as having
statewide significance or national importance in terms of scenic quality .
NONE IN THE PROJECT AREA

70. PROJECT STUDY AREA

71. VIEWSHED ANALYSIS
Landcover with Blades

72. National Register Historic Places
16 Structures and 1 Historic District
72

73. National Register of
Historic Places
Col. Samuel Campbell House
Gen Alexander Campbell House
Cherryfield Academy
Patten Building
Cherryfield Historic District
Ruggles House
Union Church
Columbia Union Church
Union Church
Columbia Falls
Gallison Memorial Library

74. NRHP: Columbia Union Church
Project screened by intervening vegetation

75. Columbia
Union Church
Proposed
Downeast Wind
turbines
Columbia
Union Church
NRHP: Columbia Union
Church

76. NRHP: Columbia Union Church
View of from front of church looking southwest

77. NRHP: Columbia Union Church
View of from front of church looking west

78. NRHP: Columbia Union Church
Computer Overlay

79. NRHP: Columbia Union Church
View of Project Area from Epping Road in front of church

80. Great Ponds Rated for Scenic Resources and
Scenic Rivers and Streams
80

81. UPPER CRANBERRY LAKE: Great Pond rated as ‘Outstanding’ for scenic resources.
MOPANG LAKE: Great Pond rated as ‘Significant’ for scenic resources.

82. UPPER CRANBERRY LAKE: Viewpoint 1
No Project views.

83. MOPANG LAKE: Viewpoint 1
No Project views.

84. MOPANG LAKE: Enlargement of Viewpoint 1
No Project views.

85. MOPANG LAKE: Viewpoint 2
No Project views.

86. MOPANG LAKE: Viewpoint 3
No Project views.

87. MACHIAS RIVER
No Project views.

88. SCHOODIC BROOK
Project screened by intervening vegetation

89. SCHOODIC BROOK
Project screened by intervening vegetation

90. View looking north
9 turbines will be visible
1.4 to 3.6 miles
View looking south
8 turbines will be visible
2.1 to 4.25 miles
SCHOODIC LAKE – Not a SRSNS

91. Please write questions on provided index cards and pass to the end of the
aisles to be retrieved for the Q&A section of the program.
Questions

92. Downeast Wind
Project Environmental Studies

93. Studies Completed to Date
93
Study Dates
Upland Sandpiper/ Grassland Bird Surveys June – Sept 2016, April – Oct 2017
Nocturnal Migration Radar Survey Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016
Acoustic Bat Activity Surveys
Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring
2017
Diurnal Raptor Migration Surveys
Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring
2017, Spring 2019
Eagle/Avian Use Surveys Sept 2015 – Sept 2016
Aerial Bald Eagle Nest/Heron Rookery Survey Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2019
Schoodic Lake Eagle Nest Survey April 2019 – August 2019
Breeding Bird Surveys May and June 2016
Vernal Pool Surveys April and May 2019
Botanical Surveys Spring and Summer 2019

94. Studies Recently Completed or in Progress
94
Study Dates
Wetland Surveys December 2019
Eagle/Avian Use Surveys January 2019 – December 2019
Analysis of Dwellings and Structures December 2019
Archaeological, Cultural and Historic Resource
Assessment
November 2019 – February 2020
Soil Survey October – December 2019
Visual Assessment November 2019 – February 2020
Flicker Assessment December 2019 – January 2020
Noise Assessment November 2019 – January 2020

95. Agency Feedback and Considerations
• Project contains Upland Sandpiper (USPA) habitat and they were
observed during surveys.
• Possible foraging stopover for Whimbrels (WHIM) to use blueberry
barrens along Maine’s coastal plain (July 15 – September 15). No
observations of WHIM during surveys.
• Coastal Plain is an important migration route for passerines, which
can migrate at night.
• USFWS has expressed concerns over eagle fatalities at wind farms.
• Fatalities of bats during operation recognized as an issue in Maine
and throughout US.
95

96. Agency Feedback and Considerations
In direct response to agency concerns:
o Project size reduced from 57 turbine locations, 200 MW to 30 turbine
locations,126 MW.
o Turbines in open barrens that are used by UPSA and WHIM reduced from 25 in
2016, to 10 in 2018, to currently 6, 3 of which are in marginal habitat.
 Avoids large, expansive habitats and areas with high levels of UPSA use.
 No impact on areas with the most UPSA observations.
 Removes turbines from path between WHIM observed locations and
Harrington Flats.
o Turbines pushed to fringes of the barrens to avoid habitat. No northern turbines
in open barrens.
o All turbines directly south of Schoodic Lake removed. Also reduced visual
impact from Schoodic Lake.
Current Layout includes alternative turbine locations to allow final
shifts to avoid conflicts.
96

97. Previous Project Layout (#18)
97

98. Current Project Layout (#34)
98

99. Additional Minimization for UPSA and WHIM
• Project access roads and collection lines have been sited away
from suitable UPSA breeding habitat to the extent practicable.
• Curtailment during courtship behaviors in the rotor swept zone for
turbines located in UPSA habitat.
• May 15 – June 15 from 30 minutes before sunrise to 10 AM and 4 PM
to 30 minutes after sunset
• Turbines have been located outside of the WHIM flight path from
Harrington Bay to the blueberry barrens near Schoodic Lake
(where the MDIF&W has documented whimbrel use).
99

100. Minimization: Nocturnal Avian Migrants
• Implement FAA-approved flashing lighting on turbines
• No nighttime lighting on nacelles
• Motion activated lighting will likely be installed on the
substation and O&M
• Unguyed permanent met towers due to the known mortality
risk associated with guyed communication towers
• Audubon Society and Maine Audubon Society recently
published an article that identified climate change as the
main threat to bird populations.
100

101. Bald Eagles
• No eagle carcasses have been found at wind projects in Maine to
date.
• As of 2018, 55 bald eagles carcasses found at wind project comprising
the 57,000 wind turbines in the US since the early 1990s.
• Eagle use surveys were completed for 2 years as per USFWS
recommendation.
• Eagle use at the Project was comparable to other wind projects in
Maine.
• Known eagle nests were taken into consideration for Project siting.
• 1 mile setback of turbines
101

102. Bald Eagles
102

103. Bat Fatality Minimization Measures
Highest risk to bats during the fall migration and three species
of bats most likely to be impacted:
• Eastern red bat, silver-haired bat and hoary bat.
Exploring the possibility of combining curtailment and acoustic
deterrents to aim for the highest reduction in bat fatalities.
Acoustic deterrents are effective in reducing bat fatalities, and
the combination of curtailment and deterrents has been shown
to reduce fatalities by over 70%.
103

104. Mitigation Concept
104
• The potential sites are located near the Project and proximal to
already preserved land to add to the value of the mitigation land.
• Identified natural communities within the mitigation area include
grassland, scrub-shrub/barren habitat, early successional forest,
deciduous forest, coniferous forest, mixed deciduous-coniferous
forest, emergent wetland, scrub-shrub wetland, and riparian habitat.
• The habitat quality at the sites and proximity to already preserved
habitat more than offsets any potential habitat loss.
• Sites will benefit both birds and bats.
• Project proposes to put this land into a conservation easement and
complete a land management plan.

105. Summary
• Project design avoids impacts to grassland birds and plans to
mitigate for any potential habitat loss or displacement.
• Measures taken to reduce threat to avian migration.
• Project designed to avoid eagle nests and fatality threat to
eagles is very low.
• Propose to use a combination of curtailment and the most
advanced technology available (deterrents) to reduce threats to
bats.
• Conservation easement will create net benefit for wildlife.
105

106. Please write questions on provided index cards and pass to the end of the
aisles to be retrieved for the Q&A section of the program.
Questions

107. Wind 101- Safety

108. 108
Wind Energy- History
• In 1980 the world's first wind farm, consisting of twenty 30 kW wind turbines
was installed at Crotched Mountain, in New Hampshire
• In 1985 half of the world's wind energy was generated at Altamont Pass (California) By
the end of 1986 about 6,700 wind turbines, mostly less than 100 kW, had been
installed at Altamont, at a cost of about $1 billion, and generated about 550 million
kWh/year
• The five states with the most wind capacity installed are
• Texas (17,713 MW)
• Iowa (6,212)
• California(6,108)
• Oklahoma(5,184)
• Illinois(3,842)
• 52,000 Wind Turbines Across the US

109. 109
Safety- Evolvement

110. 110
Safety

111. 111
Safety

112. 112
Industry Hazards – Construction and Operations
• Driving
• Electrical
• Falls
• Pinch Points
• Site Footprint and Remote Access
• Underground Infrastructure

113. 113
410 feet up

114. 114
Emergency Drills

115. 115
Emergency Response

116. 116
Apex Equipment

117. 117
Emergency Response- Patient Care
• Rescue Trained
o Advanced First Aid
o AED/CPR
o Ropes
• Towers Rescue Equipped
• We Will Bring PT to You
• GPS For All Towers
• Self Rescue

118. 118
Environmental Response
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
• Spill Control Plans
• Evaluate Local Footprint
• Covered Containment Areas

119. 119
Emergency Response- Turbine Fires
• Extremely Rare
• Sterile Zone
• 200-300ft
• Stage Away From the
Turbine
• Hit the Hot Spots

120. 120
Emergency Response- Transformers
• Local Utility
• No Water On the Hot Stuff
• Pressurized Oil

121. 121
Safety and Community Relationships

122. 122
Moving Forward With Apex
• Strengthen the Relationships
o Fire/PD
o Hospitals
o Community
• Mutual Training
o Equipment
o Response Plans
• Annual Drills
o Announced
o Unannounced

123. 123
Remote Operations Center- “The ROCC”
• Located In Charlottesville, VA
o Apex Head Quarters
• 24/7/365 Monitoring
o Wind
o Turbines
o Comms
• Talented Staff
o Veterans
o Always Vigilant!

124. 124
Apex- Safety, A Core Value
• Our Employees
• Award Winning Approach
• Our Contractors
• Pride in Influencing the Industry
• Our Owners
• Managing Risk
• Our Land Owners
• Relationships
• Quarterly Meetings
• Our Community
• Constant Engagement
• Our Emergency Responders
• Enhance Mutual Aid
• Drills and Collaboration

125. 125
Apex Safety
Thank You!

126. Please write questions on provided index cards and pass to the end of the
aisles to be retrieved for the Q&A section of the program.
Questions

127. Question & Answer
Questions have been sorted to consolidate duplicates and give equal
representation to different topics.
Any questions not answered by the conclusion of tonight’s meeting will be
reviewed and answers will be posted to the Downeast Wind website
(www.downeastwindfarm.com) by
January 10.
Downeast Wind Public Meeting