Court rejects SunEdison appeal

Maine’s highest court has rejected SunEdison’s 48MW Bowers wind project, proposed in Penobscot and Washington Counties.

The state Supreme Judicial Court has denied an appeal by the developer. SunEdison tried to overturn a decision by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, which turned down the 16-turbine project because it would interfere with scenic views of nine nearby lakes.

SunEdison appealed that decision to the Board of Environmental Protection, which also rejected it.

The court ruled the regulator acted within its power to consider the scenic impacts of the $100m project.

SunEdison has yet to decide its next steps, spokesman John Lamontagne told reNEWS.

“We are disappointed in the decision and believed the project had met the legislative requirements set out by the state,” said Lamontagne.

“It’s unfortunate in that we believe this project would have brought significant economic benefits to the community while delivering clean, renewable and cost-competitive energy to the region.”

The Bowers project has a power purchase agreement with National Grid subsidiary Narragansett Electric that includes a March 2017 commercial operation date.

The proponent, which had already trimmed the Bowers Mountain project from 27 turbines, proposed to install Siemens 3MW or Vestas 3.3MW machines.

 Image: 3.3MW turbine (Vestas)