PORTLAND, MAINE: A group of Peaks Island residents is exploring the idea of generating wind power on the island.

The group is working with Unity College, which is considering installing a wind meter on Peaks to determine whether the idea is feasible.

Sam Saltonstall, a Peaks Island resident who is leading the effort, will make a presentation about wind power tonight to the Peaks Island Council.

Saltonstall is part of a group called Peaks Environmental Action Team. Last month, the group met with George Baker, director of the new Fox Islands Wind LLC, which is working to develop wind power to serve Vinalhaven and North Haven.

Saltonstall said Unity College would need a variance from Portland's 35-foot height limit to install a wind meter.

He said his group wants the council to support bringing the issue to the City Council's Energy and Environmental Sustainability Committee.

The Peaks Island council is an advisory panel for the Portland City Council.

Saltonstall noted that his group is still studying the issue. "If it doesn't make sense, we don't want to do it," he said. "This will be up to the islanders."

Michael Langella, a Peaks council member who is involved with the effort, said the meter would have to operate for two years to gather enough data to determine whether a turbine is feasible. The meter likely would go up on one of several city-owned parcels on the island.

Peaks Island is on the Central Maine Power Co. grid, and islanders pay the same rates for electricity as mainland residents. As a result, the financial incentive for a wind turbine is not as strong as it is on Maine islands that have their own electricity distribution systems, such as Vinalhaven.

On those islands, power users pay roughly twice the rate paid by typical residential customers on the mainland.

Nevertheless, Langella said he supports the initiative as part of a national effort to increase the use of renewable energy and become less dependent on fossil fuels.

He said he believes there is enough wind on the island to generate power.

Saltonstall said revenue from the turbine would support community projects rather than lower electricity bills.

Michael Richards, chairman of the Peaks Island council, said he is unsure what role the council might play in the initiative. He said he expects residents to have some of the same concerns that have been raised about a proposed wind turbine on Munjoy Hill.

The Portland school system delayed plans last month to install a 100-foot wind meter at East End Community School because of residents' concerns that low-frequency noise, vibrations and shadow flicker from wind turbines could cause health problems such as headaches and nausea.