PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 8, 2023
The King Pine wind farm was recently approved by the Public Utilities Commission and will be built in Aroostook County if it gets legislative support. This project will have an adverse impact on the wonderful night skies in the area. The aircraft warning lights in these towers will make the entire area look like an industrial zone. However, we now have the technology to mitigate the nighttime light pollution. There are systems that can turn off the lights at night if no aircraft are detected. Clear night skies are a contributing factor for many of the tourists who travel to our state, and much appreciated by residents as well. This is a common-sense requirement for the project, and the cost to install the equipment in each tower is not burdensome. ~ Donald McNelly, Island Falls