Residents of Unorganized Townships have a say but time is short

To the Editor;

This information concerns Maine residents living in Unorganized Territories.

In 2008 many rural citizens found their communities abruptly rezoned for industrial wind development without their knowledge or participation. This year the Legislature passed a law creating a process that allows residents in UT’s to remove themselves from the so-called “Expedited Permitting Area” where industrial wind development has been fast-tracked. UT residents only have six months to take advantage of this opportunity. After June of 2016, the opportunity will be gone.

If UT residents want to regain the ability to ‘have a say’ in the development plans for their community, they must make use of this temporary avenue for removal from the EPA.

Per Public Law 2015, Chapter 265, UT residents who are registered to vote in Maine may petition to remove from the EPA all or part of the community in which they are registered. Petitions must be filed on an official form developed by the Land Use Regulation Commission, signed by at least 10 percent of the number of registered voters residing in that community that voted in the most recent gubernatorial election, and received by LUPC between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2016.

For more information or to start this process, contact Tim Beaucage by email at Timothy.Beaucage@maine.gov; by phone (207) 287-4894; or at 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building 4th floor, Augusta, ME 04333.

There’s no time to waste.  If you want to be involved in the future of your home town, you must get involved now.

Karen Bessey Pease

Lexington Township