Maine waters, wind touted as untapped energy

NORTHPORT, Maine - The winds and waters of coastal Maine offer a promising yet untapped alternative to the fossil fuels that are driving the nation into what could be a historic energy crisis, experts said Thursday.

But development of those renewable, pollution-free energy sources is being strangled by out-of-date and burdensome regulations, unproven technology and a public plagued by a "not in my backyard" mentality.

Those were the themes of a conference that drew more than 150 people interested in discussing the opportunities and obstacles of making Maine a major producer of offshore wind and tidal energy.

The conference, titled "The Power of the Gulf: Considering Ocean Energy in Maine," was organized by the University of Maine School of Law’s Center for Law & Innovation and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute.

For decades, organizations and would-be developers have espoused lofty goals of powering homes in Maine and beyond using the steady winds and powerful tides that dominate the state’s rocky coastline.

Those discussions have a new, almost desperate urgency, however, as oil prices creep toward the $5-a-gallon mark. With roughly 80 percent of Maine homes dependent on heating oil, many observers are predicting that next winter’s heating season could be an economic and social catastrophe.

"I think this is the most serious crisis ever to face the state of Maine," former Gov. Angus King told conference attendees. "Therefore, we need to think about it in new ways."

Thousands of turbines are spinning in fields and ridgelines across the U.S., although wind still accounts for a tiny fraction of total energy production nationwide. Maine is New England’s leader in wind energy with one large wind farm already operational, two under construction and more pending.

But there are currently no offshore wind farms in U.S. waters despite the fact that coastal zones typically have stronger and steadier winds. Tidal and wave energy projects, which use underwater turbines or other technology, are also largely absent from U.S. coastal waters.

Conference speakers pointed out that Europe is already years ahead of the U.S. in both wind and tidal or wave energy. More than 20 offshore wind farms generate in excess of 1,100 megawatts of power for European nations with more under development.

By comparison, the deep coastal waters of Maine have the potential to generate 133 gigawatts — or 133,000 megawatts — in wind energy, according to Walter Musial, senior engineer with the National Wind Technology Center within the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The problem, according to Musial, is that most offshore wind farms are located in shallower waters that allow turbines to be anchored to the ocean bottom. And Maine’s coastal waters are deep.

"These deep water machines really need to be developed before this resource can be tapped" in Maine, Musial said.

One of the other major problems, according to offshore wind energy developer Peter Mandelstam, is that potential investors are scared off by the regulatory environment. Developers must navigate a myriad of federal, state and local regulations that change location to location, he said.

"What any developer wants is a clear road map," said Mandelstam, whose company, Bluewater Wind, is developing a 450-megawatt wind farm 11.5 miles off the Delaware coast. "If there are 10 hurdles or 100 hurdles, that’s OK as long as there is a clear road map."

And then there are the hurdles posed by the public.

The ongoing battle over a large-scale wind farm in Nantucket Sound is emblematic of the public relations problems faced by many offshore wind proposals.

Critics of the Cape Wind and other offshore projects object to the prospect of ocean views interrupted by spinning turbines — even on the far horizon — and express concerns about impacts on fisheries, commercial fishermen and birds.

While no offshore wind farms are currently in the works for Maine waters, several projects to generate energy from tides or waves are in early development.

The Ocean Renewable Power Co. recently completed a pilot project using underwater turbines in Western Passage and Cobscook Bay near Eastport.

The company, which was praised Thursday for soliciting feedback from and building support in the local community, recently received an additional $200,000 grant from the Maine Technology Institute to continue development.

King and several other speakers advocated identifying areas appropriate for wind or tidal projects to expedite the regulatory process. Speakers also called for heavy federal investment in offshore wind or tidal energy research.

John Kerry, who heads Maine’s Office of Energy Independence and Security, said something must be done to address the state and national dependency on fossil fuel.

"I can assure you the people of Maine, and especially the poor, they are in an energy crisis," Kerry said. "We have a moral responsibility to address this and address it now."

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Jill of Connor Twp., ME - 06/13/08 I was happy to see a reference to Maine being the leader in wind in New England. This seems to be a little known fact, although we are among the top twenty windiest states. I find it interesting that the general public usually assumes that when we are talking about wind turbines generating power we are talking about large scale wind farms. My husband and I are part of a growing number of new business owners offering this technology to home owners in the state of Maine. Why not switch to electric heat and produce your own power with a wind turbine? This is a very feasible option for many and it needs more attention and incentives for those willing to invest in it. Joyce of Searsmont, Me - 06/13/08 I guess I'm too old fashioned and 'out of the loop', but I can't help but wonder why there is so little mention of hydro-electric power...We have 6 major rivers in this state. The power of the rivers is there just waiting for us to use...Why can't we use river power to supply our own state with our own power... Mike of League City, TX - 06/13/08 Why do the windfarms need to be offshore? Put them on land near the coast! I spent months working within a mile of a 150 count windmill farm, i never had any problems sleeping! (I never even heard this 'wooshing' unless I was within a few hundred feet) Charlie of Falmouth, ME - 06/13/08 In a 6/09 BDN article it reported that Evergreen Wind Power LLC was eyeing building 35 windmills in Lincoln that would generate enough power to supply 27,500 households for a year. According to Maine City Datasite there are 518,200 households in Maine. If my math is correct it would only take 19 of these projects to power every household in Maine. So what is our problem? maurice of bangor, ME - 06/13/08 Never happen. The enviro-wackos will kill this. No - no - no to everything. Barbara Ann of Seattle, WA - 06/13/08 I would hope it goes nation wide. Hats off to former Gov King. It is time to stop saying* not in my back yard. * That said, would ye rather have the water,wind,and sun be used to ease the oil problem..I would as a Mainer with kin still there. I am Mainer by birth and growing up. I am for Ameica weening her self off as much oil as she can..That day is coming.. David of Orono, ME - 06/13/08 How about on Georges Bank? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Bank Cindy of Glenburn, ME - 06/13/08 Yes I would support this. I think they are beautiful. John of Hope, ME - 06/13/08 It's not likely that this will ever come to pass in Maine. It's probably a good idea, but there will be so much resistance from environmentalists and shorefront property owners that our state government and legislature, to the extent they have any say in the use of offshore waters, will not permit it. Development of this energy resource will likely depend on a strong federal policy and commitment. But that is questionable too. I'm sure I read somewhere that Senator Ted Kennedy tried to block an offshore project that would have affected the view from his summer house, or something like that. So even when the need is demonstrated, there is generally someone who can and will prevent these projects from coming to fruition. Tiki of DownEast, ME - 06/13/08 Not sure why it would matter if you can see the turbines from shore or not.... They are much more interesting to look at then the Oil storage facilites on the shores we look at driving throught Brewer (looking ot Bangor) Bucksport etc....