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Maine | Offshore Wind and Hydrogen

 

Maine

The community may be interested in an update on what's happening regarding offshore wind and more recently, hydrogen, stateside; with a series of articles for them published over the years.

 

The latest launch involves the state of Maine, the most northerly in the Eastern United States.

Maine sits next to the Canadian border to the north which has notable tidal potential around the Bay of Fundy.

The US consenting authority BOEM is taking a rigorous and transparent approach to stakeholder engagement. Although the announcement may be of recent origin, on 18th of August, a considerable amount of work has been carried out in the background, not least stakeholder engagement and the de risking of the proposed projects.

Looking at the wind speed map depicted in the header one can see that the wind resource is most favourable for the state, and also indicates that a mix of fixed and indeed floating technologies is being considered.

In the background such key stakeholders as fisheries and defence organisations have been approached for their input and to help shape outcomes.

Projects such as this require political will and this often involves fighting for local benefits and especially job creation. Opportunities reports such as at Mack Point have been carried out by the state of Maine. 

 

Elsewhere, the BOEM timeline is familiar to those who have read my articles, but it is worth noting that hydrogen has been entering the debate in recent days with New York Governor Hochul’s announcement this week that the state of Maine could be encompassed in the New York proposed hydrogen hub.

 

 

Hydrogen was favoured in the recent inflationary package put together by the federal government, together with a big stimulus from the Biden and Harris administration towards offshore wind.

The State of Maine looks well set to join those regions which I've already shared, ranging from the Gulf of Mexico to the Carolinas and California.

Stay informed through me and with the over 2500 strong community of experts: Offshore Wind and Hydrogen 

 

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