Alternative Energy USA: Proposed 62-turbine wind farm for Bingham in Maine gets preliminary OK

A proposed 62-turbine wind farm that would be the largest in the state of Maine if built has received preliminary approval from the Department of Environmental Protection.

The draft decision issued Wednesday by Patricia Aho, commissioner of the department, means that the department could issue a final decision on the project as early as Sept. 5. The deadline for a final decision is Sept. 8, according to department spokeswoman Jessamine Logan.

Blue Sky West, a Boston-based developer and subsidiary of the company First Wind Holdings Inc., has been seeking approval for the project since May 2013 amid challenges, including a Maine Supreme Judicial Court case about a key financial partnership, and delays because of perceived threats to bats.

The project promoters also have faced opposition from residents and environmental groups in the area, and the project could be appealed to the state Board of Environmental Protection if it receives final approval.

Read more: Proposed 62-turbine wind farm for Bingham gets preliminary OK - The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram