October 5, 2021 — The state of Maine has applied to lease a little more than 15 square miles of ocean for a floating offshore wind research area in what would be the nation’s first such undertaking in federal waters.
In a 143-page application to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Management, the Governor’s Energy Office notes that Maine is uniquely qualified to hold the research lease, which will be limited to 12 or fewer turbines located nearly 30 miles offshore.
The distance is meant to avoid nearshore waters valuable to fishing and recreation, in line with the state’s new moratorium on development of offshore wind in state waters. The moratorium was imposed in response to concerns by Maine fishermen about the potential impact of wind projects on their industry.
Securing a lease to conduct research in federal waters will allow the state to use patented technology developed at the University of Maine and help Maine meet long-term climate change goals through wind energy, which represents a $1 trillion opportunity worldwide by 2040, according to the application.
Read the full story at Mainebiz