Downeast Wind energy flowing; funds from project coming soon

Electricity is flowing through the lines from 30 giant wind turbines surrounding Columbia, and soon the promised money from project operation will flow as well to local governments in Washington County.

"We've been producing electricity since April," says Brian O'Shea, director of public engagement for Apex Clean Energy, the parent company of Downeast Wind. "Around the end of September, we'll be sending the first payment under the agreement, and then it will occur each year – about $20 million over the life of the project."

The payments were agreed to when the Downeast Wind project was approved in 2020. Those payments are generated through set property tax differentials that allow the unorganized territories on which the turbines are built to be assessed at pre‑development rates as well as two community agreements with the Washington County government and the town of Columbia. That will amount to approximately more than $1.5 million this first year. "There's some one‑time money this year, so it'll be a little bit less going forward through the next 19 years," O'Shea says.

In addition to the payments, the project is also producing jobs for county residents. Six employees -- a project manager and technicians -- have been hired, and an operations building to house them will open in September.

Then, of course, there's the electricity that will be produced by the turbines erected around Columbia and in the barrens and sold to various electric entities. O'Shea says the 30 wind turbines will produce up to 126 megawatt hours, enough to power 37,000 homes a year. That means a reduction in the amount of electricity needed to be produced by less environmentally friendly methods such as coal and gas. "Our mission is accelerating the shift to clean energy," O'Shea explains. "This is our first project in Maine."

Although county residents won't notice any difference in their electricity costs, they will notice the impact of incoming money from the Downeast Wind project.

"There are a lot of projects that are going to benefit from this," says Columbia Selectman Kevin Lovejoy. "Community growth is really slow right now, and this money will help."

Columbia will receive more than $400,000 this year from the community agreement it signed with Downeast Wind. Much of that will be spent on one‑time salt shed improvements. In addition, Lovejoy says a one‑time payment of $30,000 has been slated for the Pleasant River Ambulance Service as well as another payment for the purchase of a new fire truck. "And there's a bunch for road maintenance money, too," he says.

Washington County is also the recipient of community agreement funds. County Manager Renee Gray says her tally shows a check of $828,440 will come this first year of the 20‑year agreement. "It's new money into Washington County," Gray says.

Some of that money is earmarked for an annual scholarship fund for vocational training and college, for helping small businesses, for the new technical and vocational training center in Columbia, and for infrastructure projects.

A large lump of that initial payment to Washington County is a one‑time payment of $350,000 for lakeshore improvements on Schoodic Lake, where many of the turbines are readily visible. Rich Rolfe, who is one of about 125 camp owners on the lake, says a property‑owners association is being established to decide how the money will be spent.

The remainder of the project money, about $150,000 this year, will go toward infrastructure, public safety, environmental improvements and economic development in the unorganized territories of Township 18 and Township 24. Charles Rudelitch of the Sunrise County Economic Council, which will administer the funds, says no decisions will be made until January as far as what precise projects will benefit.

In addition to the scheduled payments, Downeast Wind also operates a community grant program for educators, entrepreneurs and others in Washington County and Columbia. Organizations that receive funds are required to be involved in promoting healthy communities, creating economic opportunities, encouraging environmental stability or promoting education. The grant applications can be accessed online at <www.downeastwindfarm.com/grant> and the process closes on Tuesday, September 2.

"It's just something we run, a way to give back to the community directly from the company," O'Shea says, adding that the grants are separate from the other money promised for the project. "This is one way for us to identify other causes we want to support. It's just being a good neighbor."