offshore wind

January 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today issued the following statement in response to the determination by the National Park Service’s Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places that Nantucket Sound is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

The finding of eligibility ensures that significant archeological, historic and cultural values are considered in the review of the permit for the proposed Cape Wind project by the Minerals Management Service (MMS).    » read more »

December 15, 2009 -- AUGUSTA - Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today received from the Maine State Planning Office and Maine Department of Conservation the results of a search process to identify demonstration sites for offshore wind technology located in Maine coastal waters.

Three sites were identified by the process, which included reviewing the geography of the coast to meet certain parameters and extensive meetings with stakeholders. The sites are off Monhegan Island, Boon Island and Damariscove Island.    » read more »

Statement by John Rogers, Union of Concerned Scientists

CAMBRIDGE (December 4, 2009) – Massachusetts Gov. Duval Patrick announced this week that state utility National Grid and owners of Cape Wind, the nation's first proposed offshore wind project, are negotiating to enter into a long-term agreement for the utility to buy Cape Wind's electricity.

The agreement would help Cape Wind obtain financing to construct 130 turbines off the Massachusetts coast in Nantucket Sound.

Below is a statement by John Rogers, a senior energy analyst in the Union of Concerned Scientists' Climate and Energy Program:    » read more »

Long-term contract will move nation’s first offshore wind farm closer to reality

December 02, 2009 -- BOSTON – Wednesday, December 2, 2009 – Mass. Governor Deval Patrick today announced that National Grid and Cape Wind have agreed to enter into negotiations for a long-term contract under which the utility would purchase the electricity generated by Cape Wind. Such a Power Purchase Agreement will be a critical requirement for financing the proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound, and getting it into construction and operation in time to qualify for federal incentives under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that would reduce the cost of the project by 30 percent.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today escorted executives from Statoil around the State as part of a visit of officials from the Norwegian company. Statoil is working with the University of Maine on potential offshore wind power development.

Company officials, including the head of Statoil’s wind power business development, came to Maine to see firsthand the existing capacity and infrastructure, interest and commitment of the State and private partners to develop wind power off Maine’s coast. The tour showcased the Cianbro Eastern Manufacturing Facility in Brewer, the Fox Islands Community Wind Project on Vinalhaven, Brunswick Naval Air Station and Bath Iron Works.    » read more »

Mid-Atlantic Governors agree to formal tri-state partnership to develop renewable energy source

November 11, 2009 -- RICHMOND - Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Governor Martin O'Malley of Maryland, and Governor Jack Markell of Delaware agreed today on a tri-state partnership for the deployment of offshore wind energy in the Mid-Atlantic coastal region. The three states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creating a formal partnership that will build on the region's significant offshore wind resources to generate clean, renewable energy and a sustainable market that will bring new economic opportunities.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland, Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia and Governor Jack Markell of Delaware agreed today on a tri-state partnership for the deployment of off shore wind energy in the Mid-Atlantic coastal region. The three states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creating a formal partnership that will build on the region’s significant offshore wind resources to generate clean, renewable energy and a sustainable market that will bring new economic opportunities.    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree today joined Governor John Baldacci and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu in announcing an $8 million Department of Energy grant to develop a deepwater offshore wind test center in Maine. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, passed by Congress and signed by the President earlier this year.

“This grant will put Maine in the forefront of the deepwater offshore wind industry,” Senators Snowe and Collins and Representatives Michaud and Pingree said. “And it will help us create good paying jobs and develop new sources of clean energy produced right here in Maine.”    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- AUGUSTA – Maine Governor John E. Baldacci today joined U.S. Energy Secretary Chu and Maine’s Congressional Delegation in a conference call to announce that the University of Maine and Consortium partners have been awarded $8 million of Federal Recovery Act funds to expand efforts to develop offshore wind capacity.

This grant represents the foundation of an effort that will begin with testing, research and optimization of model floating wind turbines and lead to the deployment of the first 25 MW floating “Stepping Stone” ocean wind farm in the world in 10 years.    » read more »

October 6, 2009 -- CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- In a pilot project designed to harness the power of the ocean breezes along North Carolina’s coast, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke Energy announced they have signed a contract to place up to three demonstration wind turbines in the Pamlico Sound.

The pilot project builds on a nine-month study completed in June 2009 by UNC for the N.C. General Assembly which found “North Carolina is well positioned to develop utility-scale wind energy production.”    » read more »

Carcieri hails Deepwater Wind Rhode Island lease agreement at Quonset Business Park

June 1, 2009 -- Rhode Island Governor Carcieri today hailed the Quonset Development Corporation Board of Directors’ approval of a development agreement to lease 117 acres to Deepwater Wind Rhode Island, LLC in the Quonset Business Park for the development of the company’s regional manufacturing facility and its regional development headquarters.    » read more »

Secretary Salazar announces five exploratory leases for offshore wind energy development off
coasts of New Jersey and Delaware

June 23, 2009 -- ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – Calling it a major step forward in President Obama’s new energy frontier, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, joined by New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine, today issued five exploratory leases for renewable wind energy production on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore New Jersey and Delaware.    » read more »

New Jersey takes another step toward energy independence

June-23-09 -- ATLANTIC CITY - New Jersey moved ahead in growing the Garden State's clean energy economy with the release of leases for three offshore wind developers, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine said today during an announcement with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. The action will shift the State's wind power projects into the next stage of development.    » read more »

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.”    » read more »

June 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Maine Governor John Baldacci joined Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree at a meeting with Energy Secretary Steven Chu this morning at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. to propose a National Deepwater Offshore Wind Research Center to be operated by the University of Maine.

Dr. Habib Dagher, UMaine Professor and Director of the Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Center, also attended the meeting in Secretary Chu’s office.

After the meeting, the Governor and Congressional Delegation issued the following statement:    » read more »