Maine’s offshore wind project takes a step forward

Source: By Associated Press • Posted: Thursday, November 7, 2019

Maine regulators have approved a power contract for a University of Maine project aimed at testing floating wind turbines near Monhegan Island.The Maine Public Utilities Commission approved a 20-year power purchase agreement that’s necessary for UMaine’s Aqua Ventus project.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said Tuesday that Aqua Ventus is “poised to become the first offshore wind project in the country to feature a floating platform.” She called it a major step forward for clean energy development in the state.

The PUC last year delayed a decision and said the contract should be reopened. In June, Mills signed a law directing the PUC to complete the agreement.

UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center recently received about $5 million in federal funding for larger platforms to support a 12-megawatt wind turbine.