Maine Governor Baldacci Opens 2009 EnergyOcean Conference

June 16, 2009 -- ROCKPORT - Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today opened the 2009 EnergyOcean Conference by talking about Maine’s commitment to renewable sources of energy.

“Maine is New England’s leader in developing its vast land-based wind resource,” Governor Baldacci said. “Maine has more than 300 megawatts currently operating or under construction, and another 450 in various stages of development. Our offshore wind resource is even larger, estimated at more than 100 gigawatts. That’s enough to power all of New England with power to spare.”

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The three-day conference has attracted more than 400 technologists, financiers and policy makers from around the world to share and discuss opportunities for the renewable market of ocean-based energy. In addition to the Governor’s address, the agenda for the first day includes keynote speakers from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, a U.S. Government Panel Session and a panel session on Minerals Management Service’s Technology Assessment and Research Program.

Governor Baldacci told conference-goers that Maine’s energy needs do not stop with lights and appliances. He said that 90 percent of Maine’s families’ energy budget goes to heat their home and operate their motor vehicle, 80 percent of homes and many businesses heat with oil, and 100 percent of Maine’s cars and trucks run on oil.

“Our State alone exports many billions of dollars each year,” the Governor said. “That money goes out of state and overseas to pay for heat and motor fuel. Maine people want to stop spending their energy dollars overseas and instead keep those dollars here.”

The Governor said the State’s goal is to cut the Maine family’s overall energy costs by two-thirds, in part through the use of ocean energy.

“Using the wind, the waves and the tides for heat and transport it promising and will help us achieve those goals,” the Governor said.

Governor Baldacci last week signed into law a bill put forward by the Ocean Energy Task Force to establish a 60-day expedited permitting process for the demonstration and testing of ocean energy technologies in appropriate sites in State waters in the Gulf of Maine.

“The ocean energy legislation received unanimous and bipartisan support from the Maine Legislature,” Governor Baldacci said. “In Maine, we understand that the challenges we face are large, and that we need to act now, act quickly, and act as one.”

Governor Baldacci also took the opportunity at the conference to announce a trade mission to Spain and Germany this fall that will be focused on renewable energy. He said the trade mission will enable Maine companies to connect with progressive companies abroad and hopefully attract future energy investment in the State.

EnergyOcean 2009 continues Wednesday with panel discussions, technical sessions and presentations before wrapping up Thursday afternoon.

For more details, visit www.maineoceanenergy.com or www.energyocean.com/2009/.

Source: Maine Governor