Wind moratorium proposed in state waters January 29, 2021 on News, Waterfront
BAR HARBOR In a Jan. 22 letter to Maine fishermen, Governor Janet Mills said she would submit legislation to create a 10-year moratorium on new wind energy development in state waters.
“While we may not agree on the best response to offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine, please know that I am being fully briefed on the feedback you are providing to the Energy Office and DMR, and I understand your concerns,” Mills wrote. “I want to make clear that my focus is the research array, proposed for federal waters. New, commercial-scale offshore wind projects do not belong in state waters that support the majority of the state’s lobster fishing activity, that provide important habitat for coastal marine and wildlife species and that support a tourist industry based in part on Maine’s iconic coastal views.”
Aiming to ease fishing industry’s concerns, Mills proposes moratorium on offshore wind
The governor says she will ask the Legislature to approve a 10-year moratorium on new offshore wind projects in waters managed by the state.
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In a bid to defuse opposition and avoid conflict with Maine’s fishing interests, Gov. Janet Mills proposed a series of actions Monday to advance a floating wind research project planned for far offshore in federal waters, while protecting the near-shore waters valued for lobstering and coastal tourism.
In a letter to licensed commercial fishermen, Mills announced that she will ask the Legislature to approve a 10-year moratorium on new offshore wind projects in waters managed by the state, which extend three miles from shore.
By Staff
As commercial fishermen express concern about the impact of proposed offshore wind energy development in the Gulf of Maine, Gov. Janet Mills on Friday tried to calm the waters.
Mills said in a letter to fishermen she will ask the Legislature to create a 10-year moratorium on new wind projects within 3 miles of shoreline, a state-managed band of ocean that supports most of Maine’s lobster fishing as well as much coastal tourism.
But she promised little to allay fears about how a planned array of floating wind turbines might affect fishing and the marine environment farther offshore.
Governor Mills announces actions to advance floating offshore wind research array in Gulf of Maine
In letter to fishing industry, Governor Mills affirms Maine’s commitment to the climate, energy and economic benefits of floating offshore wind, proposes moratorium on new wind projects in more heavily fished state waters
Office of Governor Janet T. Mills Mon, 01/25/2021 - 1:30pm
Gov. Janet Mills said she will propose for the Legislature’s approval a 10-year moratorium on new offshore wind projects in waters managed by the state. File photo
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Governor Janet Mills today proposed a series of actions to advance the nation’s first floating offshore wind research array in federal waters and to protect Maine’s more heavily fished state waters.