In her third executive order, Gov. Janet Mills on Thursday ended a 2018 moratorium restricting the issuance of permits for wind turbine projects across the state.
The moratorium on all commercial wind turbine licenses was implemented last January by former Gov. Paul LePage, who imposed it when he set up a commission to study the impact of turbines on tourism, property values and the environment. It earned his administration resistance in the Legislature and a handful of lawsuits from environmental groups.
Mills’ order means that state agencies with the “legal authority to issue permits can once again do their work with Maine’s local communities and stakeholders to determine which projects should go forward,” according to a Friday prepared statement.
Groups with legal authority include the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the state’s Land Use Planning Commission and the Public Utilities Commission.
Her order will allow the state to “conduct a transparent vetting of all wind projects, onshore and offshore, to ensure they respect Maine communities and our environment while helping to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.”
“It is time for Maine to send a positive signal to renewable energy investor and innovators: We welcome you,” Mills said.
Jeremy Payne, executive director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association, expects Mills’ order will do just that.
“It sends an important signal to the energy marketplace, and it’s exactly the message that those businesses, developers and job creators are looking for — that Maine is indeed back open for the clean energy business,” Payne said.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on www.bangordailynews.com.
