Snowmobile trails would link Maine wind farms

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Maine snowmobile enthusiasts and the wind power industry are working on a plan to link perhaps 10 wind farms with trails to give the sledders destinations for their wintertime rides.

Bob Meyers of the Maine Snowmobile Association says it'll take some doing to get the network together, and it won't be done this season. But Meyers says it's looking probable.

The snowmobile group is working with First Wind, TransCanada and other wind power developers on the project. Organizers say snowmobilers like to have destinations for their rides and have shown interest in the past in sledding to wind power sites. They see the trail idea as a new tourism lure.

Meyers says about 98 percent of the 600-mile windmill trail would be on existing trails, which could be specially marked.