Maine’s offshore wind test sites chosen via 12-year-old process
The sites now opposed by commercial fishing interests were selected following a lengthy public input process.
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A 12-year-old state law designed to encourage ocean energy development and reduce Maine’s dependence on fossil fuels set the stage for the current debate over offshore wind power sites.
Part of a 2009 law called the Ocean Energy Act established wind test areas in state waters, which extend 3 miles from the mainland. Those test areas were selected based on criteria that included optimum wind speeds and water depths, as well as attempts to minimize conflicts with existing marine uses such as fishing and seabird nesting.
Damariscove-island
Maine
United-states
Boothbay-harbor
York-county
Machias
Monhegan-island
Boon-island
Monhegan
University-of-maine
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