Maine Submits for Federal Small-Scale Floating Offshore Wind Research Site
The Office of Maine’s Governor submitted an application to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to lease a 15.2-square-mile area nearly 30 miles offshore in the Gulf of Maine for the nation’s first floating offshore wind research site in federal waters. The state’s applicatication seeks permission to deploy up to 12 turbines using innovative floating hulls designed at the University of Maine. The project would advance UMaine’s patented technology and foster a better understanding of how floating wind turbines interact with the environment, fishing industry, shipping, and more. By addressing fundamental questions about how offshore wind can exist in the Gulf of Maine, the intent of the research array is to advance the development of Maine’s offshore wind economy while informing the responsible growth of floating wind in the U.S. and beyond.
