Statement: Maine to develop nation’s first floating offshore wind array

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Anya Fetcher

Governor Mills announces plan to partner with fisheries on offshore wind research array

Environment Maine

AUGUSTA – Governor Janet Mills of Maine announced on Friday the intent to expand and develop the country’s first ever floating offshore wind array dedicated to research. The array would be made up of 12 or fewer turbines located between 20 to 40 miles offshore in the Gulf of Maine, home to some of the highest and steadiest wind speeds in the world. The announcement follows a two million dollar grant received by the state in October from the U.S. Economic Development Agency to support long term planning for offshore wind in Maine, and represents an effort to coordinate and engage with the fishing industry.

Environment Maine State Director Anya Fetcher released the following statement:

“The Governor’s research initiative firmly positions Maine to be a leader on offshore wind, an obvious next step towards a world powered by clean, renewable energy. With some 60% of our nation’s offshore wind resources located in deep water, exploring floating turbine technologies in the Gulf of Maine represents a unique opportunity to access that vast resource and forge a new path into uncharted energy waters. With the upcoming release of the state’s Climate Action Plan to move us to a 100% renewable energy future, offshore wind is likely to play a major role in that transition and will define the energy sector for decades to come. We have more than enough wind energy off our coast just waiting to power our homes, and now we can begin to harness it.”

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