The prospect of wind turbines floating off the coast of Maine just got a lot closer this week.
That’s because the federal government just approved an environmental review involving a research lease for 12 wind turbines floating about 28 nm southeast of Portland.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, part of the Interior Department, approved the review, which was necessary before the state could move forward with developing the turbines.
“Floating wind technology can make offshore wind a reality in the Gulf of Maine,” said Elizabeth Klein, the director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the Interior Department. “BOEM will continue to work in partnership with the state of Maine as we move forward to facilitate the responsible development of offshore wind in this region, as well as the deployment of floating offshore wind technology nationwide.”
Maine Gov. Janet Mills said the approval was a milestone in the state’s effort to harness energy from ocean winds as well as recognition of “our nation-leading work to responsibly develop this promising industry.”
The state estimates that the 12 floating turbines, developed by the University of Maine, could generate up to 144 megawatts of renewable energy. The research lease for this project is separate from a BOEM designation of a larger area in the Gulf of Maine with a lease to be determined this fall.
The Biden Administration has set a target of developing 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.
So far, the BOEM has conducted four offshore wind lease auctions, including the first sales ever off the coasts of the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico.
Read more at https://www.boem.gov/newsroom/press-releases/boem-finalizes-environmental-review-gulf-maine-offshore-wind-research-0 and http://maineoffshorewind.org
