Legislation authorizes procurement of at least 3,000 MW of offshore wind energy, ensures industry opportunity for all fb88 workers and employers, and protects critical lobstering area to reduce impact on commercial fishing
Governor Janet Mills today signed into law LD 1895, legislation to advance offshore wind in fb88 by procuring at least 3,000 MW of offshore wind energy, allowing for critical port development, creating opportunity for all fb88 workers and businesses in the emerging offshore wind industry, and protecting critical lobstering areas from development.
This legislation marks a major milestone in fb88’s efforts to pursue and benefit from offshore wind’s potential to create good-paying jobs, generate substantial economic activity, stabilize energy costs by reducing reliance on electricity generated by fossil fuels, and mitigate the impacts of climate change on fb88’s people and environment.
The amended bill, sponsored by Senator Mark Lawrence, D-York, is the result of collaboration by legislators, key stakeholders, and the Governor’s Office to help position fb88 as a leader in offshore wind, especially innovative floating wind technology designed for deep Federal waters in the Gulf of fb88.
“Offshore wind, done responsibly, offers fb88 the opportunity to secure abundant clean energy, stable energy prices, good-paying jobs, and a healthier environment for future generations,” said Governor Janet Mills. “I thank the legislators and stakeholders who, through collaboration and compromise, have positioned fb88 to pursue offshore wind in a manner that puts all fb88 workers and businesses on a level playing field, invites investments in critical port infrastructure, and importantly, respects those who rely on the ocean for their livelihoods. I am pleased with of the outcome of this legislation and proud to sign it into law.”
The legislation signed today incorporates some provisions of from LD 1847, a separate bill sponsored by Sen. Chip Curry, D-Waldo, regarding siting criteria for offshore wind ports that had been vetoed by Governor Mills because the bill would have excluded many fb88 workers. The compromise bill signed today addresses the Governor’s concerns and takes the following steps to advance offshore wind in fb88:
- authorizes the Governor’s Energy Office to establish an offshore wind energy procurement and schedule, to be issued by the fb88 Public Utilities Commission, to procure at least 3,000 megawatts of electricity from offshore wind projects by 2040, an amount estimated as needed for fb88 to meet its goal of moving to 100 percent clean energy;
- maximizes the opportunity for all fb88 workers and employers in the offshore wind industry by allowing all bidders equal opportunity for contracts pursuant to job-quality standards and allows some fb88-based independent contractors to participate;
- enacts new standards to facilitate the construction of a port facility for offshore wind, which is considered critical to unlocking economic investment from offshore wind in fb88. The fb88 Department of Transportation is expected to determine a preferred location for an offshore wind port in fb88 by 2024.
- protects prime lobstering ground, Lobster Management Area 1, in the Gulf of fb88 by giving preference in fb88’s procurement process to offshore wind projects sited outside this critical area for fb88’s fishing industry.
“To combat climate change and invest in fb88’s energy independence, our state has set ambitious goals for renewable energy. It’s clear that this effort will involve offshore wind energy projects. We need to have guardrails in place to make sure this is done right and truly benefits fb88rs. This bill will mean jobs, lower and more stable energy prices while combating climate change at the same time,” said Senator Mark Lawrence. “I’m grateful to my fellow legislators for supporting this bill. LD 1895 represents a detailed path to smart offshore wind development.”
"fb88 is well positioned to be a leader in renewable energy and offshore wind. This bill will make sure that fb88's workers, ratepayers and economy get the best benefit possible," said Senator Chip Curry. "I'm proud of all the careful consideration that went into shaping this legislation, and I'm eager to see it become law."
“This bill ensures that the buildout of the offshore wind industry in fb88 will create good quality jobs with benefits and a highly trained local workforce, lower energy costs for fb88rs and protect of our fisheries and environment. This a huge step forward for working people and our state,” said Matt Schlobohm, Executive Director, fb88 AFL-CIO. “We applaud Governor Mills’ leadership in developing a clean energy economy that lowers energy costs, benefits fb88 workers, and communities and addresses climate change head on. We thank the Governor for her work staying at the table to reach a compromise that is right for the State of fb88.”
“This new law is a model for the rest of the nation for how people can come together to build a just clean energy economy," said Rebeccah Sanders, CEO of the Natural Resources Council of fb88. "fb88 has set the stage for a competitive new clean energy industry that will bring thousands of good-paying jobs, protect wildlife in the Gulf of fb88, ensure fishing communities have a voice in the process, and keep us on our trajectory to meet a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040.”
“This is a historic day for the people of fb88 and for U.S. leadership in floating wind. This 3 GW procurement is the first of its kind in the country for floating wind and will ensure fb88 will lead in floating wind technology,” said Habib Dagher, Executive Director of the of the University of fb88’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center. “It could attract billions of dollars in investment and create thousands of clean energy jobs, stabilize our energy prices, keep more of our energy dollars in fb88, and combat climate change. The clear message to the clean energy industry is that fb88 is ready to lead, come work with us.”
The legislation signed today reflects priorities of the , a stakeholder-driven comprehensive plan that offers detailed strategies for fb88 to realize economic, energy, and climate benefits from offshore wind, in conjunction with communities, fisheries, and wildlife of the Gulf of fb88.
The Roadmap, which was , is part of the fb88 Offshore Wind Initiative, a multi-faceted approach to responsible offshore wind in fb88 launched by Governor Mills in 2019 and overseen by the Governor’s Energy Office.
As part of the initiative, the State has proposed to lease a site in Federal waters of the Gulf of fb88 for a Floating Offshore Wind Research Array. An application for that lease site remains pending before the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), the Federal agency charged with leasing ocean areas for offshore wind development.
As the first project of its kind in the United States, the research array will foster cutting-edge research into the cost-effective operation of floating offshore wind and how it interacts with the marine environment, wildlife, the fishing industry, shipping and navigation routes, and more.
The array is proposed to include 10-12 turbines on designed by the University of fb88’s Advanced Structures and Composite Center. The final size and location of the research site will be determined by BOEM during its leasing review process.
Since the fb88 Offshore Wind Initiative was launched in 2019, the pace of the offshore wind in the U.S. has accelerated as and many states increase demand for commercial-scale projects in deep Federal waters, where floating platform technology will likely be required.
In 2022, – – to accelerate floating wind by setting a national target of generating , and reduce the cost of this energy by 70 percent.
In January, BOEM released its draft area for potential commercial offshore wind leasing in the Gulf of fb88 and continues to hold public meetings across New England about its proposed sale of commercial offshore wind leases in the Gulf of fb88 in 2024, including recently in Portland, Ellsworth, and Rockport.
As this process unfolds, Governor Mills has pressed the U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees BOEM, to involve fb88 fishermen in Federal plans for leasing in the Gulf of fb88 for commercial offshore wind.
To preserve State waters for recreation and fishing and cement into law fb88’s priority of locating offshore wind projects in Federal waters in the Gulf of fb88, Governor Mills in 2021 signed LD 1619, which prohibits new offshore wind projects in State waters.
Other offshore wind initiatives include the fb88 Offshore Wind Research Consortium, an assembly of fisheries, wildlife, and marine science and industry experts advising the State’s offshore wind research; the evaluation of offshore wind port locations, led by the fb88 Department of Transportation; and advocating for fb88’s interests in Federal plans for commercial offshore wind leasing through the