Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Five Arrested at Wind Power Protest

Five protesters were arrested this morning after blocking construction vehicles at the site of a new wind farm under construction on Rollins Mountain in Penobscot County.

A protest at the site a wind power project under construction on Rollins Mountain has led to the arrest of five people. The protest was aimed at the 40-turbine project that Boston-based First Wind began constructing on the Penobscot County mountain in September.

Most of those arrested were members of the activist group, Earth First!, according to the Portland Press Herald.

They were apprehended after blocking construction vehicles from getting into the site for about half an hour. The demonstrators say they're concerned about the project's impact on the environment.

But First Wind officials told the paper that the renewable energy project is good for the environment and has already put 150 people to work.

Eventually, First Wind spokesman John Lamontagne told the paper, the $130 million project will put more than 200 people to work during construction.

The protest didn't have much effect on construction, as the intense storm that hit the state overnight had already put work at the site temporarily on hold.

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