FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 29, 2024
Wind Energy Developers Win Federal Lease Areas in the Gulf of Maine
AUGUSTA, ME – Today, Invenergy NE Offshore Wind, LLC and Avangrid Renewables, LLC, experienced offshore wind developers, won four federal lease areas in the Gulf of Maine. This marks the next step in bringing offshore wind energy to Maine. In 2023, the state of Maine passed a law, LD 1895, to procure 3 GW of offshore wind energy by 2050. This is enough energy to meet about half of Maine’s expected electric load in 2050. LD 1895 also included provisions ensuring Mainers benefit, like incentives that pushed the federal offshore wind lease areas outside of Lobster Management Area 1, labor standards that will create good, family-sustaining jobs, and a plan for ongoing research to protect wildlife.
Lucy Hochschartner, Climate and Clean Energy Director at Maine Conservation Voters said, “I am thrilled to see the next step toward bringing homegrown offshore wind to Maine that will create good, union jobs, get us off of volatile and expensive fossil fuels, and help to protect families from further climate disasters.”
“This successful lease sale is a momentous step forward for Maine’s goals to tackle climate change and build a new clean energy industry centered on our proud maritime and shipbuilding heritage.” said Jack Shapiro, Climate and Clean Energy Program Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “Responsibly developed offshore wind will make us more energy independent, reduce harmful air pollution, and deliver good-paying jobs, all while protecting ocean wildlife and avoiding key fishing grounds.”
“With today’s successful sale of all four lease areas, the future for offshore wind in Maine is very bright,” said executive director of Maine Labor Climate Council Francis Eanes. “This serves as a testament to the importance of addressing the climate crisis in Maine while uplifting working Mainers by bringing good union jobs to communities that need them most — all while protecting Maine’s vital fisheries and uplifting the sovereignty of Tribal nations.”
Next steps for companies that won offshore wind leases include creating a site assessment plan, which will need to be approved by the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management. Once plans are approved, offshore wind developers will be able to conduct extensive surveys of their lease areas in order to draft a construction and operations plan, which will need to be approved before the building of an offshore wind project can begin. Maine Conservation Voters will continue to be engaged at every step of the process to ensure that Maine ends up with the best possible project for our people and our planet. Offshore wind remains the single biggest lever the state of Maine can pull to address the climate crisis.
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