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Fire Damages $2 Million Wind Turbine At UMaine Presque Isle

A $2 million wind turbine at the University of Maine's Presque Isle campus caught fire last night, tripping breakers and temporarily plunging the campus into darkness.

University spokesman Dan Demerit says it's unclear just how badly the windmill was damaged, but it appears significant.

"The site's been secured and it's going to remain offline until we can consider how best to meet the future power needs of the campus," Demerit says.

Presque Isle's fire chief says the turbine fire was too high to reach, but it burned out without causing any injuries or other damage.

 

A Columbia University graduate, Fred began his journalism career as a print reporter in Vermont, then came to Maine Public in 2001 as its political reporter, as well as serving as a host for a variety of Maine Public Radio and Maine Public Television programs. Fred later went on to become news director for New England Public Radio in Western Massachusetts and worked as a freelancer for National Public Radio and a number of regional public radio stations, including WBUR in Boston and NHPR in New Hampshire.