The Maine Governor’s Energy Office was awarded more than $2.1 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to support their efforts in planning for offshore wind developments in the state. Through this initiative, the Energy Office will create a roadmap for establishing a floating offshore wind power industry by examining manufacturing, supply chains, port facilities, transportation systems, shipbuilding, workforce development, power interconnection, export opportunities, and economic impacts. The federal funds were provided through Disaster Supplemental Funding and will be matched by $380,000 in state and local funds to support economic recovery in eight coastal communities.
This work builds on recent work by the Governor’s Energy Office to promote offshore wind development, support local manufacturing jobs, and decarbonize their electricity sector. Governor Janet Mills stated that “this important award will give Maine a roadmap for growing our clean energy economy in collaboration with our heritage industries, especially fishing, in order to support our state’s economic recovery from COVID-19 and sound the call that Maine intends to be a global competitor, innovator and leader in floating offshore wind.” The project will include partners at the University of Maine and the Maine Technology Institute. For more information on Maine’s efforts on offshore wind, click here.