Energy Office's Statement on Maine Aqua Ventus Offshore Wind Proposal Approval

The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) was encouraged today by the Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) approval of Maine Aqua Ventus.

 “Maine must become more competitive with electricity costs while also moving forward with targeted investments for research and development,” asserts Energy Director Patrick Woodcock. “While we must focus on energy sources that lower the price of electricity today, we must also target investments in the research and development at our University. Over the last year there has been progress in the development of offshore wind in Maine, and the approval of the term-sheet today places Maine in a strong position for a significant investment in our University from the Department of Energy.”

 More than a year ago, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected the University of Maine as one of seven projects able to compete for three $47 million grants to research innovative technologies to reduce the cost of offshore wind. Since that time, The University of Maine and its partners at Cianbro and the Maine Maritime Academy launched a 1/8th scale prototype in the Gulf of Maine, representing the first grid-connected offshore floating wind turbine in the country. The progress prompted the Legislature and the Governor to allow competition for a finite amount of ratepayer support and to select the project with the most potential for the state. With approval of a Public Utilities Commission term sheet, the consortium of University and industry partners assembled to construct a full size pilot has an opportunity to secure one of these $47 million grants.

During its deliberations on the term sheet, the Commission highlighted the technology proposed by Maine Aqua Ventus as containing attributes that are superior to the proposal submitted last year by the company Statoil. “The Maine Aqua Ventus technology was developed by Maine students and Maine companies, and has attributes designed to bring offshore wind to economically competitive levels,” states Woodcock. “We will continue to support advancing the research and development of this Maine grown technology. While the semi-submersible concrete design remains at a research and development stage, we must redouble our efforts to bring cost-effective and off-the-shelf technology to help Mainers today with their energy costs.”