Lincoln group appeals First Wind project

A citizens group in Lincoln is appealing the Department of Environmental Protection's decision to permit the $130 million wind farm that Massachusetts-based First Wind wants to build on Rollins Mountain in Lincoln, Lee, Burlington and Winn.

The Friends of Lincoln Lakes claims DEP officials and First Wind did not sufficiently consider the impact that noise, vibrations and light flicker from the 40-turbine wind farm would have on humans and wildlife, according to the Bangor Daily News. The group also contends that the turbines would lower land values and typically generate a fraction of the 60 megawatts of electricity that First Wind claims it would generate at peak capacity.

The DEP permitted the project on April 21. The group argued its case before the DEP in its intial review, but the agency largely dismissed it for lack of evidence, the paper reported. The group wants the DEP to grant it a public hearing to present its argument. The group also has a pending appeal with the Lincoln Appeals Board, which claims the planning board violated land-use ordinances when approving the wind project.