BOEM Announcement Sets the Stage for What Could be Nation’s First Floating Offshore Wind Farms
News Release
March 15, 2024 (Augusta, ME) — The federal government today announced the final Wind Energy Area where development of offshore wind may occur in the Gulf of Maine.
The area designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will exclude Lobster Management Area 1, the fishing grounds for nearly the entire Maine-based lobster fishery, from commercial offshore wind development while also minimizing impacts on wildlife. It strives to avoid a majority of the historical and present-day fishing grounds of the Wabanaki Nation.
BOEM’s final Wind Energy Area for the Gulf of Maine will support the development of 32 gigawatts of reliable, affordable offshore wind, a necessary step for creating new good-paying union jobs and moving the New England region toward energy independence by replacing expensive and unpredictable fossil fuel power generation.
The announcement today sets the stage for a lease auction later this year for what will become some of the nation’s first floating offshore wind projects in the Gulf of Maine. Researchers at the University of Maine are leading the development of the innovative floating wind turbine technology required in deep ocean waters.
BOEM’s decision comes after the Maine Lobstering Union, Local 207 (MLU) worked with organized labor and environmental groups to pass a state law in 2023 that encourages three gigawatts of offshore wind by 2040 with strong labor standards, extensive protections for wildlife, and incentives for developing wind projects outside Lobster Management Area 1.
“Maine is setting an example for the rest of the nation for responsibly developing offshore wind, balancing the needs of coastal communities and wildlife protection with the urgency to address climate change — the greatest threat facing our woods, waters, trails, and coastlines,” said Jack Shapiro, Climate and Clean Energy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine.
“The best way to protect wildlife is to reduce their proximity to turbines, and we’re pleased that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has sited leases away from most high-conflict wildlife areas,” said Sarah Haggerty, Conservation Biologist and GIS Manager with Maine Audubon. “We will pursue additional wildlife safeguards throughout the leasing process, but this announcement is a very important step in the right direction.”
“We are extremely pleased that BOEM has heard the concerns of fishermen and their union allies by excluding critical lobster grounds from the siting of offshore wind,” said Cynthia Phinney, President of the Maine AFL-CIO. “Offshore wind has the potential to transform our coastal economies with thousands of well-paying union jobs, make Maine more energy independent, and substantially cut our climate pollution, but it’s crucial that these projects are sited properly so that our fishing communities are protected. We also want to recognize the incredibly hard work of organizing, advocacy, and collaboration between Maine’s building trades unions, lobstermen, our environmental partners, and our elected leaders to protect the livelihoods of fishing families while maximizing the transformative community benefits of offshore wind.”
“This decision respects the importance of our fishing industries in our state’s economy and identity, while advancing our clean energy future,” said Kathleen Meil, Senior Director of Policy and Partnerships at Maine Conservation Voters. “Offshore wind is a powerful solution to address the climate crisis, meet energy needs, and boost the economy all at once. Maine must continue our collaborative work to responsibly develop this new industry.”
“Whether they build Maine on land, at sea, or the docks, today’s announcement is a clear and convincing win for our union family,” said Jason J. Shedlock, President of the Maine State Building & Construction Trades Council and Regional Organizer/Secretary-Treasurer for the Laborers’ International Union, Local 327. “It is a win for Maine’s environment. It is a win for economic development and community investment. But more broadly, it is a win for solidarity.”
“Climate change is the greatest threat facing our oceanic ecosystems, full stop,” said Matt Cannon, State Conservation and Energy Director, Sierra Club Maine. “The clean, sustainable offshore wind energy produced on the Gulf of Maine will help to preserve the Atlantic’s diverse marine life, all while bringing a boost to coastline economies and New England’s grid reliability.”
“We are pleased to see that by working together – the state, our federal delegation, our broad coalition, fisheries, and the tribes in Maine – we were able to encourage BOEM to protect the waters that are important to us and still open the opportunity to bring wind energy to Maine enabling our transition to a sustainable energy future,” said Amy Eshoo, Director of Maine Climate Action Now.
In its announcement, BOEM also said it will prepare an environmental assessment of the Wind Energy Area, a key step in avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating any environmental impacts that could come from developing this key clean energy resource.
Earlier this month, the State of Maine announced its preferred location for a deep-water port that would support construction and staging for offshore wind projects in the Gulf of Maine. The port will spur millions in private sector investment and support the creation of new good-paying union jobs in the clean energy sector.
