Maine’s governor has signed a bill that bars any new offshore wind projects in waters under state jurisdiction, about a week after the state legislature approved the legislation.
The bill, which became effective immediately because it was introduced as an emergency measure, says that offshore wind power projects “may provide significant economic and environmental benefits to the State by generating renewable energy” but that siting them in Maine’s waters “may adversely affect resources, including scenic and aesthetic resources, and recreational and economic uses, including commercial fishing.”
“Maine is uniquely prepared to grow a strong offshore wind industry, create good-paying trades and technology jobs around the state, and reduce our crippling dependence on harmful fossil fuels. This legislation cements in law our belief that these efforts should occur in Federal waters farther off our coast through a research array that can help us establish the best way for Maine to embrace the vast economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind,” Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, said in a statement after signing LD 1619 last week.
The state Senate and state House both approved the measure on June 30. The measure received the required two-thirds support in each chamber.
Democrats control both chambers in addition to the governor’s mansion, one of 15 so-called Democrat trifectas in the United States.
Maine Sen. Mark Lawrence, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, said that the moratorium on developing wind projects in state waters “will protect Maine’s fisheries and coastal waters and maintain Maine’s status as a leader in developing clean energy and fighting climate change.”
The legislation drew support from the Maine Renewable Energy Association, the Northeast Clean Energy Council, and Maine Audubon.
“..may provide significant economic and environmental benefits to the State by generating renewable energy” but “may adversely affect resources, including scenic and aesthetic resources, and recreational and economic uses, including commercial fishing…”
With a expensive resourced project, you can’t go into it either/or. Its a yes or no, not may be good, may be bad – then its chosen to move forward and years down the road we hear I told you so.
This day/age, C’mon man!
OCEAN CITY?????
They should leave the shoreline in Maine alone