Wind Power News: Maine
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Maine counties chafe at lower-than-expected payments from wind farms
For nearly two decades, commercial wind farms have been touted in Maine as a way to generate electricity without pollution, and as a way rural locales in Maine can generate revenue for themselves by hosting turbines worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But several counties and towns are finding out they are getting less revenue out of the wind projects than they had expected when they were wooed in the 2000s and 2010s by developers looking to erect turbines several . . . Complete story »
Dock Talk: An array of risks
In June 2019, Maine’s Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill requiring the state Public Utilities Commission to approve the contract for an offshore wind farm in Maine. This proposed array would cover 16 square miles of prime fishing ground in the Gulf of Maine, with miles of underground cables installed 2 meters below the ocean bottom to transport the energy. The array would operate for 20 years before being decommissioned. Though touted as a research array to explore clean energy . . . Complete story »
Deal on offshore wind jobs highlights tensions with Maine fishermen
Wednesday’s announcement that Maine organized labor and the developer of a pilot offshore wind farm are partnering to train and hire construction workers took place against a backdrop of rising tensions between two marine-related job creators. One, the fishing sector, is a longtime symbol of Maine’s independent work ethic and an economic mainstay in many coastal communities. The other, offshore wind, is part of a fast-evolving clean-energy industry that’s taking shape along the Eastern Seaboard. The interests of these two . . . Complete story »
Lobstermen united against Monhegan offshore wind project
FRIENDSHIP, Maine – In one of Maine’s biggest lobster harbors, close to 100 fishermen and their supporters packed the town dock to stand, side by side, in opposition to offshore wind power development in the Gulf of Maine. They were also united in their worry about the prospect of those projects happening. “There is so much at stake, so many livelihoods, so many families,” said George Gilbert, a lobsterman from New Harbor. “Big business is coming to Maine, on the water, . . . Complete story »
As tensions rise, fishermen are frustrated with offshore wind development survey
Fishermen are denying allegations that they intentionally blocked a vessel conducting a survey for an offshore wind development project from doing its work earlier this week. The survey vessel, Go Liberty, reported to marine law enforcement Monday that fishermen were blocking its path, preventing the ship from conducting a survey of a proposed cable path for the New England Aqua Ventus project, a one-turbine wind development project slated for the waters off Monhegan. Maine Marine Patrol responded to the complaint . . . Complete story »
‘How do we stop it?’ — Lobstermen voice concerns over wind development in meeting with regulators
State marine regulators kicked off a series of online outreach meetings on Tuesday evening with lobster zone councils that represent fishing grounds where the administration of Gov. Janet Mills could site a 12-turbine wind-energy project. And as recent protests over a smaller project planned off Monhegan Island show, the gap between Mills and fishing communities is only growing. Harpswell lobsterman Chris McIntire asked Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher how the bigger array could be stopped altogether. “Do we need to . . . Complete story »
Fishermen didn’t violate rules in dispute with wind developers, state says
State marine regulators are providing an update on a dispute between fishermen and the developers of a wind energy project off Monhegan Island. The flashpoint has been recent activity by a 150-foot vessel contracted by the developers, New England Aqua Ventus, to survey possible routes for a cable running between the project and the mainland. Project officials said Monday that fishermen appeared to be putting gear in the vessel’s way, bringing their boats too close, and thus forcing survey operations . . . Complete story »
Marine Patrol directed to remove gear from path of wind power survey if Monhegan fishermen won’t
The state is telling Monhegan Island-area lobstermen to remove fishing gear from the path of a survey vessel – or the Marine Patrol will. That’s after the Department of Marine Resources determined that there is enough gear in that area to prevent the vessel from doing its work. The 150-foot Go Liberty is surveying possible routes for an electricity cable that would stretch from a planned floating wind turbine developed by New England Aqua Ventus to the mainland. Earlier this week, . . . Complete story »
Nearly 100 fishing boats gather to protest wind turbine off Monhegan
Nearly 100 fishing boats gathered off Monhegan Island to trace the proposed route of an undersea cable that would connect an offshore wind turbine to the mainland power grid in East Boothbay on Sunday, March 21. “We just wanted to make our voices heard,” Larry Reed, a Bristol lobsterman who participated in Sunday’s protest, said by phone on Wednesday, March 24. Reed said he is mainly concerned about the potential environmental impacts of the cable installation and its potential to . . . Complete story »
Lobsterman and turbine developers trade accusations over wind project
A day after commercial fishermen held a peaceful on-the-water rally to protest plans to develop offshore wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine, there was friction on the water over the issue. On Sunday, about 80 fishing boats gathered off Monhegan Island, near the site of a proposed floating wind turbine. New England Aqua Ventus plans to build the turbine, and run an underwater cable to the mainland to deliver the power. According to fisherman Gerry Cushman, leader of the . . . Complete story »
