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.
Some Boothbay residents angered by wind power developments, including drill tests on private property
The developers of a wind-energy turbine off Monhegan Island are apologizing to Boothbay residents angered by unannounced work in town last month, some of it on private property. And the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is taking heat from locals as well, for signing a deal to allow cable from the turbine to come ashore on its waterfront property there. The New England Aquaventus project aims to use deep waters off Monhegan to test an 11-megawatt wind turbine based on . . . Complete story »
Energy companies accused of bid rigging and racketeering in US lawsuit
A cybersecurity company filed a $110m lawsuit in New York this week, accusing the Spanish global energy company Iberdrola and its US subsidiary Avangrid of bid rigging and racketeering. The 72-page federal court complaint outlines an elaborate scheme by Iberdrola executives to generate millions of dollars in wasteful equipment expenditures in order to turn a profit from its utility customers in New York, Connecticut and Maine. The lawsuit further alleges that much of this equipment was never put to use . . . Complete story »
East Boothbay residents worried wind turbine cable could damage property
There continues to be controversy over Maine’s offshore wind project. A test wind turbine is planned to be installed off of Monhegan Island with a cable running to a substation in East Boothbay. One of the proposed cable routes is on two streets in East Boothbay. Those who live in the neighborhood are worried the drilling and construction of the cable will damage their property. “All of these are unique plants that derive color for me in the spring, which . . . Complete story »
Belgrade extends moratorium again on solar, wind farms and other developments
BELGRADE – Residents at a special town meeting this week decided to extend by 180 days a ban on a range of developments in Belgrade, including solar and wind farms. Tuesday’s vote was the second time a moratorium has been extended since it went into effect last November. It means applications for various permits, including for subdivisions and telecommunication installations, are not being accepted by the town. The moratorium is scheduled to expire May 5 and is expected to give the . . . Complete story »
State applies for windfarm permit, Maine lobstering union files lawsuit
A non-commercial research windfarm in 15 square miles of the Gulf of Maine due south of Monhegan Island and east of Kennebunkport is the objective of an application that the Maine Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) submitted last week to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). It is the first step in one of Gov. Janet Mills’ signature policy initiatives: bringing Maine to a position to require 100 percent renewable energy use by the year 2050. [rest of article . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind won’t fish
There is no compatible mixing of wind turbines and fishing! The endangered species of the Maine fishing family is already dancing around the newly announced National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) restrictions to protect the right whales from gear entanglement. Add several 10,000-ton floating wind turbines, and even more whale restrictions on the NOAA docket (98 percent gear reduction in 10 years), and you have a severely impacted Maine fishing industry. Special purple markings on their end lines prove Maine . . . Complete story »
Clifton wind farm expansion on track to be online in September 2022
A planned expansion that would triple the energy output of a wind farm in Clifton is on track to be online next fall. Halifax, Nova Scotia-based firm SWEB Development Inc. received approval earlier this year to build another five wind turbines alongside the Pisgah Mountain Wind Project’s existing five turbines in Clifton. The Silver Maple expansion would allow the development to add 20 megawatts in wind energy, resulting in more than triple the Pisgah Mountain project’s current 9-megawatt capacity. Construction . . . Complete story »
New England solar developer’s legal wrangling draws praise, criticism
Thomas Melone is president of a Connecticut solar company. He is also a lawyer. And between the two, observers say, he is something of an enigma. As head of Allco Renewable Energy, Melone says his company’s corporate mission is to combat the devastating impacts of climate change. But he’s also filed multiple lawsuits challenging several states’ clean energy programs. He most recently made news by suing in federal court to have approvals overturned for Vineyard Wind – poised to be the . . . Complete story »
Lobstering under attack
A few weeks ago, Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) met with several dozen concerned citizens in Ellsworth for updates on Maine’s offshore wind proposals. The man facing that audience was grim-faced, fatigued and struggling for the proper words to express his apparent anxiety. A husband, a father of three and a longtime lobsterman out of Winter Harbor, Faulkingham, who also serves on the Joint Standing Committee for Marine Resources, has been a strong voice of reason in our Legislature . . . Complete story »
Fishermen slow offshore wind farm development
Actions by Maine fishermen directly affected the process of offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine with a bill signed into law on July 7 by Governor Janet Mills. The measure was a response to plans that surfaced last year for a 16-square-mile, 12-turbine wind farm, called a “research array,” off the southern coast of Maine. Proponents promised good jobs and cheap, green electricity. Fishermen weren’t so sure. They envisioned wind farms springing up throughout the Gulf of Maine, . . . Complete story »
