Officials are celebrating the arrival of a cargo ship delivering more than 100 wind turbine blades to Eastport. 60 of the blades are heading to the Rollins Wind Project in Penobscot County, the rest are going to a wind project in Canada.
The port of Eastport has been very quiet since the Domtar mill in Baileyville announced it was shutting down several in March.
But on Thursday there was activity on the dock as workers unloaded the blades.
More than 30 longshoremen are hard at work unloading dozens of 6 and a half ton wind turbine blades. Each one is more than 120 feet long.
Eastport Port Authority Executive Director Chris Gardner says works been scarce here since the Domtar mill in Baileyville announced it was closing indefinitely back in march. This project may represent a days work, but Gardiner believes it also represents new opportunities ahead.
"You see longshoremen who were given very bad news a few months ago about downturns in their opportunities to work here at the port of Eastport. Today they're working. They're importing the new industry to Maine which is wind power," Gardner said.
First Wind, is the company developing the 60 megawatt wind project on Rollins Mountain. It also built the Stetson Mountain wind project in Washington County.
Matt Kearns, Vice President of Development for First Wind says that project pumped 50 million into the Maine economy and expects this project to provide a similar boost.
"This is just another way to diversify the economy up here in Washington County. the port obviously receiving some bad news on the pulp front, this is a piece of good news," Kearns said.
One Maine company benefitting from the project is Reed and Reed in Woolwich. Reed and Reed used to specialize in marine construction but has found a new niche in wind turbines.
It built the Mars Hill and Stetson Mountain projects, and is slated to build the Rollins Mountan project.
"it's been great for us. It gives us more diversification. And sets us up for the future we think," said Pat Defilipp, a senior project manager for Reed and Reed.
The Maine DEP approved the Rollins Mountain project last week. First wind says the 40 wind turbines on Rollins Mountain would generate enough electricity for 23 thousand homes.
The company hopes to start construction sometime between July and September.
Broadcast segment can be viewed online at:
http://www.wlbz2.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=104071&catid=3
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