Analysis Marks Next Step in Critical Offshore Wind Port Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 11, 2024

CONTACT: Lucy Hochschartner, Climate and Clean Energy Director, Maine Conservation Voters, 518-637-7839 | Francis Eanes, Executive Director, Maine Labor Climate Council, ‭814-421-4528‬ |  Jason Shedlock, President, Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council, (207) 317-1447‬ | Jack Shapiro, Climate and Clean Energy Program Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine, 503-975-0882‬ | Grant Provost, Business Agent, Ironworkers Local 7 | Elise Hartill, Interim Co-Director, Maine Youth for Climate Justice, 207-249-4212‬ | Nick Lund, Outreach Manager, Maine Audubon, ‭(207) 650-8739‬ | Amy Halsted, Co-Director, Maine People’s Alliance, (207-240-0427)

AUGUSTA, ME – The state of Maine has released a “draft pre-application alternatives analysis,” which marks a critical next step in their efforts to build a floating offshore wind port. A floating offshore wind port was identified as crucial to meeting the state’s offshore wind goals in the Maine Offshore Wind Roadmap. Sears Island was identified as the preferred location for the port by the state earlier this year, and this document presents the state’s analysis for that choice.

Representatives from groups supporting the thoughtful development of offshore wind in Maine including Maine Conservation Voters, Maine Labor Climate Council, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Maine Youth for Climate Justice, Ironworkers Local 7, Maine AFL-CIO, Maine People’s Alliance, Maine Audubon, and Maine State Building Trades Council released a joint statement about the update saying, “This analysis is a critical next step toward building a port that will allow us to generate the home-grown clean energy Maine needs to stabilize volatile and expensive electricity prices, create thousands of new good-paying, union jobs, and help protect our local communities from devastating storms.” 

All groups are looking forward to digging deeper into this extensive analysis in the coming weeks and staying engaged throughout the port permitting and development process to make sure we have the best possible project for Maine’s people, economy, and environment.

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