By Mike Schuler, gCaptain
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has executed the first U.S. floating offshore wind energy research lease, covering nearly 15,000 acres off the coast of Maine.
The groundbreaking lease is situated 28 nautical miles off the coast of Maine on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and is poised to host up to 12 floating offshore wind turbines, with a potential to generate 144 megawatts of renewable energy.
The research initiative, a collaboration between the State of Maine, the fishing community, wildlife experts, and the offshore wind industry, aims to study the potential of floating offshore wind energy, its environmental impacts, and its compatibility with existing ocean uses.
“Floating wind opens up opportunities to produce renewable energy in deeper water farther offshore,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein.
Maine Governor Janet Mills touted offshore winds as offering a historic opportunity for Maine to create good-paying jobs, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and fight climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
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