Mills pushes for 10-year ban on offshore wind development in state waters [View all]

[TexasTowelie]

The moratorium would focus commercial-scale wind power development in federal waters of the Gulf of Maine, where an offshore wind research project is planned.


As fishing interests geared up early Wednesday for a rally against offshore wind power development, the administration of Gov. Janet Mills introduced legislation to create a 10-year ban on new projects in state waters.

The proposed moratorium would set aside state waters, which extend up to three miles from shore, for fishing and recreation. It would focus commercial-scale wind project development in federal waters of the Gulf of Maine, where the Mills administration has proposed a first-in-the-nation research array to study floating offshore wind technology.

The ban wouldn’t include the already permitted New England Aqua Ventus demonstration project, a single floating turbine which is expected to be built off Monhegan Island in 2022-2023.

Lobstermen have shown their displeasure with the Monhegan project, engaging in a dispute last month with a survey vessel working to mark a route for a submerged cable that will connect the project to the mainland.

Read more: https://www.pressherald.com/2021/04/28/mills-advances-10-year-ban-on-offshore-wind-power-in-state-waters/
(Portland Press Herald)