Mills Branch Wind Project
Apex Clean Energy, an industrial wind turbine energy developer headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., is proposing to locate 25 to 35 500-foot industrial wind turbines near Kennedyville, Md., between state Route 213 and the Chester River. What is ESLC’s Position? ESLC believes local energy generation, especially renewables, is a critical component to the Eastern Shore’s future economic resilience and prosperity. However, the proposed Mills Branch Wind Project is of a scale never before considered on the Eastern Shore and lacks the local public review process necessary to balance our need for renewable energy generation with the impacts of a project this scale. For these reasons and the potential impact on conserved lands, ESLC opposes the Mills Branch Wind Energy Project. The Eastern Shore has the potential to be the undisputed leader in Maryland renewables, but it can’t be done without thoughtfully balancing the expense to resources like tillable acreage, wildlife habitat, rural vistas and more. ESLC would like to use the attention surrounding the Mills Branch project as a call to action. This region needs to develop a strategy to say “yes” to renewables, but on its own terms. What will Mills Branch Look like? According to Apex Clean Energy, their goal is to produce up to 130 MW of wind energy expected to power more than 30,000 homes each year. They are projecting 35-45 wind turbines with turbine height roughly 550 feet. The Mills Branch Project would be located on approximately 5,000 acres of open farmland in Kent County, with the intention of active farming underneath. How does the project get approval? The Mills Branch Project needs to get a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Public Service Commission. The Public Service Commission regulates gas, electric, telephone, water and sewage disposal companies and the construction of generating stations. Apex will apply for a CPCN and a hearing will be held
