Dispatches
Island Institute Summary III: Fox Islands
August 31, 2009
As the precursor to 
Monhegan project, the Fox Islands Wind Project, serving the islands of Vinalhaven and Northhaven, has already begun construction. With a year round combined 1,800-person community and a 99% approval rating on the wind project, the Fox Islands are currently constructing three turbines on less than three acres of permanently disturbed land. These 1.5 megawatt General Electric turbines with 135 foot long blades are sized to supply what the community utilizes in a year, around 1,100 megawatts, and should be oscillating by November of 2009.Lucky for us, Green Living Project was able to witness the site in its preliminary stages the very day before the turbine construction began.
When completely erected, the turbines will be visible on a clear day at about 10-20 miles away. Some complain that wind turbines are visually obstructive, but for many they stand as pieces of working art, symbolic of community unification. As George Baker, CEO of Fox Island Wind, LLC, reflected, “ There really is nothing cutting edge about this project, except for the way it was designed for and by the community as a distributive and locally owned generation that will serve as a model for other communities…It is better to get the community excited instead of fighting.”
And its true, the Fox Island Wind Project has become a prototype for other communities like Blue Hill, who also sent a few representatives on our Fox Island tour. Being that the community forever owns and operates these self-sustaining turbines, alternative energy approaches have become an extremely attractive model.
One story best illustrates the collective energy and excitement surrounding the Fox Islands Wind Project. As the first barge loaded with turbine blades pulled up to the dock at Vinalhaven, locals were actually lined up along the wharf, cheering and routing on the driver. It was first time, the driver said astounded, that anyone has ever cheered for me.
From GLP’s short time 
in Maine, the enthusiasm around renewable energy became very tangible. In our several conversations with locals, Maine residents would often mention Fox Island Wind Project with much vigor and optimism. Similar to the Island Institute, GLP is also hopeful that the Fox Island Community Wind Project will rewrite the history of New England as an esteemed model for wind energy production.
