SACO — A windmill should be catching the breeze blowing along the Saco River this fall, converting it into electricity and, it is hoped, a small savings for taxpayers. The Saco City Council voted this week to spend up to $8,000 on a residential-sized windmill to be installed at the city's wastewater treatment plant on Front Street.

YARMOUTH — Developers of a proposed windmill project on two western Maine mountains said Wednesday that scaling back the project, as suggested by an environmental group, would doom their Redington Wind Farm plan. Maine Mountain Power is seeking state approval to build 30 wind turbines, 12 on Redington Pond Range and 18 on Black Nubble Mountain near the Sugarloaf USA ski resort. Hearings get under way next Tuesday in Carrabassett Valley.

The Freedom Planning Board wrapped up months of work and is ready to present selectmen with the final draft of a 48-page series of ordinances to regulate commercial enterprises in town.

BUCKSPORT - Councilors this week will consider whether to investigate the potential for wind power on town-owned property near the industrial park off Route 46 that could reduce energy costs for businesses in the park and, potentially, for the town's schools.

FREEDOM - Competitive Energy Services LLC, the Portland-based company that wants to build a 4.5-megawatt wind farm in Waldo County, has voluntarily suspended its application to give the town time to draft an ordinance dealing with such proposals.