MAINE OCEAN WIND GETS $3.7MIL BOOST

Maine pilot project receives $3.7 million award, reviving vision for offshore wind farm; The money will help finance further development of floating turbines that could lead to a lucrative clean-energy industry in the state.

Tux Turkel, November 16, 2015 (Portland Press Herald)

“An experimental offshore wind turbine being developed by a University of Maine-led consortium has won a $3.7 million federal award [from the Department of Energy for the Maine Aqua Ventus project]…reviving ambitions that the state could be the home of a floating, deep-water wind farm and a new clean-energy industry…[Demonstration projects in New Jersey, Virginia, and Oregon won $47 million grants when] Maine got $3 million to continue engineering and design work…[but the three others have] been unable to secure a power purchase agreement, and each has had trouble with cost and/or regulatory issues [so Aqua Ventus gets] $3.7 million to help overcome remaining barriers…In elevating the status of Maine Aqua Ventus, the Energy Department’s action may put Maine back in the [offshore wind] game…The project won a 20-year power-purchase agreement from the Maine Public Utilities Commission. An average Central Maine Power Co. home customer would pay an additional 73 cents a month, or $8.70 in the first year…” click here for more

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