Final Maine ocean wind bill may bar windfarms from state waters; limit them in  federal waters and encourage them in the Exclusive Economic Zone.   FMI Contact Penobscot Bay Watch  207-691-7485 coastwatch@gmail.com

AUGUSTA On March 18, 2010, Maine Legislature’s Utility and Energy Committee held a  2 hour work session on LD 1810, the bill to implement the recommendations of the Governor’s Ocean Energy Task Force.  Scroll down   to listen to the speakers and legislators at this worksession (mp3s) Listen to March 11th public hearing on LD 1810 Mp3s

Due to the presence of Maine fishermen  and oceanic beauty in virtually every square foot of Maine state ocean waters, commercial windfarm companies may be required by the legislation to keep out of Maine state waters; in exchange, the industry seeks nonconfrontation with the fishing industry further offshore.

“Fishermen, resorts, the schooner fleets, a variety of human users are already fully exploiting Maine’s nearshore natural resources.” said Ron Huber “They can only be harmed if the industrial wind companies began leasing nearshore waters.”

Because of the complexity of the 38 page bill,  (see pdf copy of LD 1810 with state waters parts highlighted) the committee could not get through the entire bill and will meet again on Tuesday at 1pm

The Maine Lobstermen’s Association will work through the weekend on acceptable wording protecting fisheries.  Doubtless other fisheries as well.  The ocean windmill industry is no doubt busy, too,  hoping to reinclude permssion to do windpower in state waters in the bill.

Listen to speakers at the March 18, 2010 Hearing

* Introduction to the Worksession 4min

* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky describes proposed changes to Bill Part A 17 minutes

* MDEP’s Nagusky Q&A session 11 minutes

* Patrice Farrell, Maine Lobstermen’s Association 3 & 1/2 minutes

* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky describes proposed changes to Part B of LD 1811

* Suzanne Sayre 2 minutes

* John Ferland Ocean Renewable Energy Corp 1 minutes

* Dianne Messer, advocate, Liberty Maine 2 minutes

* Chris O’Neill, Friends of Maine Mountains 1 minutes

* Todd Rousette (sp?) Preti Flaherty lawfirm 2 minutes

* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky describes more changes to Part B

* MDEPs Beth Nagusky on changes to Part C of bill

* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky on changes to Part D of bill

* MDEP Beth Nagusky on Changed to Part E of Bill
* MDEP Beth Nagusky questioned on Part E 7 min

* MDEP Beth Nagusky questioned more 10 minutes

* University of Maine Dr Dagher 12 minutes

* Final stakeholders and close of work session  11 minutes

The unexpectedly loud powerful opposition to the bill by Maine scallopers, shrimpers and groundfishermen, joined by ocean resort and sailing interests and conservation activist Huber, may be bearing fruit.  “We won’t just stand by and let  the Department of Conservation start leasing out Maine’s legendary fishing and sailing grounds to big energy companies out of Boston and New Jersey.” said Huber  who is the litigant in the aforementioned  Huber v Bureau of Parks and Lands lawsuit over the Monhegan floating test site.

He said the bill would allow companies to seek 20, 40 and 50 year leases over state waters. “Are we really ready for that?” Huber asked. “I don’t think so.  Neither do most fishermen I know.“    The ocean windmill industry is probably busy this weekend too, he said,  hoping to regain language in the bill allowing windpower in state waters in the bill.

Heuber said That  the Maine Lobstermen’s Association leadership, which had been negotiating behind closed doors with the wind industry, had to be taken to task by scallop, shrimp and groundfish fleets and its own rank and file  before it stopped supporting DMR’s “Prepare to Share”  campaign, as  described by George Lapointe at the  wind energy seminar at the 2010 Maine Fishermens Forum.

On March 23rd, all interests will be back in Augusta before the Utility and Energy Committee for a 1pm  final  showdown on LD 1810

After operating in obscurity for nearly 5 years, the PineCrest Club, a private restaurant located on Rt. 114 in the heart of Gorham, is now open to the public. “91 South”, formally known as the “PineCrest Club” officially opens its doors to the public on Thursday night, January 27^th.   “What sets ‘91 South’ apart is the wine list,” said Matt Mattingly, Managing Partner of the PineCrest Inn. “This is a wine list that defies common restaurant pricing ideals and sets the stage to upset restaurants throughout the region and beyond.”

The wine menu at 91 South offers a staggering 65 wines by the glass and each bottle is priced under $30. Standard restaurant bottle prices are usually 2 to 3 times cost. “If you are like me and love wine but hate paying restaurant prices you will know what I am talking about. Often,  I know what the bottle costs in a restaurant and many times I feel like I am being robbed,” says Mattingly. Since real wine lovers hate paying restaurant prices, 91 South has chosen a different path. Each bottle is priced at only $10 over retail. So there is no guessing what you might pay in real life for a bottle from this great wine list.

Chef Maureen (Mo) Terry, the former owner of Café Always in Portland, heads up the kitchen. 91 South offers an intimate dining room less than 25 seats and is located in the PineCrest Inn. Conveniently the Inn is located at 91 South Street in the village of Gorham. The Restaurant is open Thursday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10:00. Reservations are highly suggested.

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For more information contact: Matt Mattingly 207-839-5843 or email matt@pinecrestmaine.com or on the web at www.pinecrestmaine.com

Background on 91 South

After purchasing the PineCrest Bed and Breakfast in 2005, Matt & Amy Mattingly wanted to open an intimate restaurant and recruited Chef Maureen Terry to join them. Chef Mo, as she is known, was the former Chef and owner of Café Always on Middle Street in Portland.

Due to a zoning restriction they were not allowed to operate a commercial restaurant. Mattingly appealed the Code Enforcement Officers decision. After a short time the Town of Gorham Appeals Board found an opening in the permitted uses of the zone allowing the restaurant to open but only as a private club with dues paying members.

“We began with list of about 20 people and sent an invitation to join. Several did and from those first few folks, we grew on an invitation only basis and after a short time 6 members became 50,” Mattingly said

During the spring of 2008, Town Councilor Matt Robinson, who was not a club member but wanted additional places to eat in Gorham, started the process to amend the permitted uses in the UR zone. Almost 18 months later, a new ordinance was created paving the way for the little known PineCrest Club to open its doors to the public. From 2005 until this past December, the club operated on little more than word of mouth, hosting private dinners, events and house concerts.

In late December of 2009, Matt & Amy Mattingly and Chef Mo Terry raised a glass of champagne after a late night dinner service and toasted their decision to open the doors to the public.

91 South is very unique and intimate. The wine list features an extensive array of wines from around the world serving a staggering 65 different wines by the glass. For those who know wine, they will appreciate this list because the bottle prices are set at a flat rate of $10 over retail. For those who don’t know wines just ask for the tasting list. This 40 page book contains tasting notes on every wine along with more information than you could ever read during dinner.

The Wine Pub has very intimate seating for only about 8 to 10 people and the restaurant seats less than 25. Guests walk through the kitchen on their way from the wine bar to the dining room which features painted rough barn boards and fireside dining.

On Friday nights, dinner guests are treated to solo jazz guitarist Ken Karby and as the evening wares on, the innkeeper Matt Mattingly joins in on keyboards.  Once a month, the dining room transforms into one of the most personal  performance venues in Maine. Musicians and performers, some from across the country, perform in this unique house concert setting. Local favorites have been featured at the Inn, like Pete Kilpatrick, Amelia Dahlin, Dave Rowe Trio, Don Roy Trio and many more.

91 South is located at the PineCrest Inn, 91 South St (Rt 114) in the village of Gorham and is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 5:30 to 10:00. Reservations are highly suggested. FMI 839-5843

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For more information contact: Matt Mattingly 207-839-5843 or email matt@pinecrestmaine.com or on the web at www.pinecrestmaine.com