Maryland wind farm draws protests

Environmental groups have threatened to sue Constellation Energy Group Inc. for risking protected bats at a planned Western Maryland wind farm, but the company says it will honor endangered species laws.

Save Western Maryland and the Maryland Conservation Council gave Constellation notice June 23 that they plan to attempt to block its Criterion wind project on Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. They argue the project puts at risk Indiana bats and Virginia big-eared bats, both federally protected as endangered species. Federal endangered species law requires 60 days’ notice before filing such a lawsuit.

But Constellation officials said they are in the process of applying for what is called an “incidental take permit,” which allows private entities to undertake projects that could harm or kill endangered species if they work with federal fish and wildlife officials on a conservation plan. Constellation is going through that process, spokesman Aaron Koos said.

The Criterion wind project is a major one for Constellation and Maryland. The company spent $140 million in April to buy it from Clipper Windpower Inc., including wind turbines and plans that had already been crafted. That came on top of $90 million Constellation committed to spending on solar projects in 2010. The Garrett County project will put 28 wind turbines on ridges around 3,360-foot-high Backbone, the state’s highest mountain.

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