PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (AP) An energy adviser to Republican Gov. Paul LePage has repeated a tall tale about the wind turbine at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Refrigeration technician James LaBrecque told WVOM-FM on Wednesday that the university uses outside power to turn the turbine blades when there’s no wind to avoid questions from the public.
That’s not true.
University spokeswoman Rachel Rice said wind is required for the blades to turn.
She said there were electric motors to swivel the unit, operate a cooling fan and run hydraulics but that has nothing to do with the blades turning. She said there’s no way for the blades to turn other than wind.
The turbine, which was dedicated in 2009, was damaged by fire in April. It produces savings of $100,000 a year.
