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Wind Power News: Maine
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission 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. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
States sue Trump administration over federal roadblocks on wind energy, citing economic harm and climate goals
A coalition of state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday against President Donald Trump’s attempt to stop the development of wind energy. Attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., are challenging an executive order Trump signed during his first day in office, pausing approvals, permits and loans for all wind energy projects both onshore and offshore. They say Trump doesn’t have the authority to unilaterally shut down the permitting process, and he’s jeopardizing development of a power source critical . . . Complete story »
Trump administration halts UMaine floating wind turbine project
The University of Maine’s 375-ton prototype floating wind turbine platform now sits in limbo at Mack Point after the Trump administration’s suspension of its $12.5 million Department of Energy project grant. Samantha Warren, chief external and governmental affairs officer for the UMaine System, said the April 11 suspension notice came just hours after the quarter-scale prototype was towed into Mack Point, Searsport’s industrial hub, where it remains. The letter, from the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E grants officer, said the . . . Complete story »
Developer pauses bid for offshore wind farm in Gulf of Maine
A subsidiary of Mitsubishi has agreed with state officials to pause negotiations over a contract aimed at helping to develop offshore wind generation in the Gulf of Maine. The state Public Utilities Commission last week issued an order suspending negotiations with Pine Tree Offshore Wind LLC. In the order, the PUC says the Mitsubishi subsidiary has requested a pause in the negotiations “due to recent shifts in the energy landscape that have in particular caused uncertainty in the offshore wind . . . Complete story »
Could proposed wind farm have impact on fishermen’s livelihoods?
On Oct. 29, a lengthy article was reprinted in The Times Record from the Portland Press Herald on proposed wind farms in Casco Bay. The article had only one small quote from the New England Stewardship Association stating that the wind farm will “threaten mariners (fishermen) and the marine environment.” This year, a science journal reviewed all studies on the effects of high voltage electrical lines that would run from each windmill to the shore. Their conclusion was that these . . . Complete story »
Feds turn down $456 million grant proposal for Searsport wind port
Federal transportation authorities have rejected Maine’s request for $456 million to build a port to support a fledgling offshore wind power industry in the Gulf of Maine. Maine’s proposal to fund the Searsport project was absent from a list of 44 grant awards released by the U.S. Department of Transportation through a $4.2 billion infrastructure program. State Transportation Commissioner Bruce Van Note said in a statement the grant program was extremely competitive and Maine’s application was ambitious. “We believe the . . . Complete story »
Rangeley voters to consider ordinances for alternative energy systems
Voters on Nov. 5 will consider a new alternative energy systems ordinance and an update to the vendor’s license ordinance. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Office. New regulations will be added in the Chapter 38 article if passed. New definitions related to alternative energy will also be added to the definitions section of Chapter 38, Town Manager Joe Roach wrote in an email. The town has no regulations governing alternative energy systems. . . . Complete story »
Truck carrying wind turbine blade hits Maine bridge, closing part of Route 1
Part of Route 1 in Stockton Springs was closed Friday morning because a truck, or part of what it was carrying, hit a bridge overpass, causing the truck to overturn. Maine State Police say the truck was carrying a long wind turbine blade to the town of Columbia when it collided with a railroad trestle at about 5:30 a.m. Friday. Detours were in place utilizing 174A to 1A and back to Rt. 1. Police said crews would likely be working . . . Complete story »
Seacoast fishermen say they don’t support wind turbines in Gulf of Maine
A federal group wants to put wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine, but some Seacoast fishermen said they don’t want them. On Wednesday night, several fishermen said they can’t get on board with the idea of wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine, but the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said they’re trying to be as safe as possible with this potential project. The proposal would allow the state of Maine to build 12 floating turbines about 30 miles . . . Complete story »
Worried about effect on “clean energy transition,” Mills vetoes bill requiring union workers on state land
Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a bill on Friday that would have required companies leasing state land for clean energy projects to work with unions hoping to represent their workers. The bill, L.D. 373, is aimed at the offshore wind power terminal and manufacturing facility the Mills administration aims to build in Searsport. Mills said she vetoed the bill because it contained ambiguous language and was too far-reaching in its scope. In her veto letter, she wrote that it was unclear . . . Complete story »
Maine House, protecting sand dunes, rejects plan to build offshore wind terminal on Sears Island
The Maine House of Representatives voted Tuesday to protect sand dunes on Sears Island where the Mills administration has proposed to build an offshore wind terminal. In an 80-65 vote, the House rejected legislation that would have authorized the Department of Environmental Protection to grant a permit to build the terminal on an area of Sears Island that includes a coastal sand dune system. If the legislation fails, it is unclear how severely the decision would delay the buildout of . . . Complete story »
