There are a number of wind power projects in the state of Maine, totaling more than 900 megawatts (MW) in capacity. In 2020 they were responsible for 24% of in-state electricity production.[1] In 2019, Maine had more wind capacity than the other five New England states combined, at 923 MW.[2]
The largest wind farm is the Bingham Wind Farm in Kingsbury Plantation, with an installed capacity of 185 MW.[3]
In 2008, then-GovernorJohn Baldacci set a goal for the state of 2,000 megawatts of wind power installed by 2015 and 3,000 MW by 2020.[3] Since 2007 wind power generation has increased more than 16 times from 99 GWh generated for 2007 to 1623 GWh for 2016.[4]
As of the end of 2016, 901 megawatts of wind generation capacity had been installed in Maine and generated nearly 14% of the state's total electricity.[5][6]
In January 2018, Gov. Paul LePage created a moratorium on all new wind power construction stating, “While out-of-state interests are eager to exploit our western mountains in order to serve their political agendas, we must act judiciously to protect our natural beauty."[7] Gov. Janet Mills ended the moratorium in February 2019 after she was elected governor.[8]
The Canton Mountain Wind Project consists of eight GE 2.85 megawatt wind turbines with 103 meter rotors on 85 meter towers. It was developed by Patriot Renewables, it is located in Canton Maine (44°31′02″N70°18′09″W / 44.517242°N 70.302412°W / 44.517242; -70.302412), and went online in November, 2017.[44]
Offshore wind energy
Offshore wind energy represents Maine's largest untapped natural energy resource, rated at 156 GW.[45] The University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center has led efforts to develop this resource with its patented floating wind turbine technology, VolturnUS.
In 2008, as a result of the Maine Ocean Energy Task Force, Maine established a renewable ocean energy goal, including the installation of 5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030.[46]
North America’s first offshore wind turbine was deployed in 2013.[47] The VolturnUS is a floating concrete hull design that can support a wind turbine in waters 45 meters deep or more. In 2013 a 1:8th scale VolturnUS hull with a 65 feet (20 m) tall turbine was towed into Penobscot Bay near Castine, Maine where it was connected to the grid and tested for 18 months.[48] Following the successful deployment of the VolturnUS Maine Aqua Ventus 1, GP, LLC, is leading a demonstration project off Monhegan Island, ME called New England Aqua Ventus I using the same floating hull and turbine technology.[49]
Proposed wind projects
New England Aqua Ventus I
New England Aqua Ventus I is an up to 12 MW floating offshore wind pilot project that will be anchored off Monhegan Island at the UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site in Lincoln County. It will use a single 9.5 MW turbine mounted on the VolturnUS floating concrete hull. It is intended to demonstrate the potential for floating wind power on the New England coast.[45] Project participants include the Cianbro Corporation and the University of Maine.[45]
In June 2019, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed into law LD 994, sponsored by state Sen. David Woodsome, directing the Maine Public Utilities Commission to approve a 20-year, long-term power purchase contract. That contract was unanimously approved by the Maine PUC on November 5, 2019, and signed by Central Maine Power (CMP) on December 20, 2019.
New England Aqua Ventus I is anticipated to be the first commercial-scale floating wind project in the United States.
King Pine
The King Pine wind farm is planned to provide 1000 MW of power in Aroostook County. It is projected to begin construction in 2026 and will double Maine's wind power capacity, producing the equivalent of 27% of Maine's electric usage. Its developer Longwood Energy projects a cost of $2 billion. A new 345 kV tramission line will connect it to the ISO New England grid, and 40% of electricity will be purchased by utilities in Massachusetts.[50]
The Longfellow project would have 16 turbines that could produce 40 MW of electricity, enough to power about 17,000 homes in the Northeast. The power would be sold to the New England power grid. The wind turbines would have been built on the west side of the mountain, away from the Black Mountain ski area.[citation needed] The developer placed the project on hold due to the strength of wind gusts in the area.[59]
Hywind 2
In April 2012, Statoil, a Norwegian multinational oil and gas company, received state regulatory approval to build a large four-unit demonstration floating wind farm off the coast of Maine called Hywind 2.[60]
Statoil proposed building a 4-tower, 12–15 MW wind farm developed by Statoil North America for placement 20 kilometres (12 mi) off the east coast of Maine in 140–158 metres (459–518 ft)-deep water of the Atlantic Ocean. Like the first Hywind installation off Norway, the proposed turbine foundation was spar buoy.[61][62]
The State of MainePublic Utility Commission voted to approve the construction and fund the US$120 million project by adding approximately 75 cents/month to the average retail electricity consumer. Power would have been flowing into the grid no earlier than 2016.[62]
Statoil placed Hywind 2 on hold in July 2013 as a result of new legislation (LD 1472) by the State of Maine. The legislation required the Maine Public Utilities Commission to undertake a second round of bidding with a different set of ground rules; that led Statoil to suspend the project due to increased uncertainty and risk.[63] Statoil ultimately abandoned the Hywind 2 project in Maine and developed Hywind Scotland instead.[64]
Community debate
A statewide poll in Spring 2007 by the Pan Atlantic SMS Group showed that 85% of Maine people supported wind power development.[65]
A 2009 poll conducted by Portland-based Critical Insights shows that 90% of Maine people support the development of wind power as a source of electricity. Nearly nine in ten Mainers agree that "wind power can improve energy security and reduce Maine’s dependence on fossil fuels, and eight in ten agree that wind power will produce jobs and other forms of economic benefits".[65]
In a 2010 statewide telephone poll of 500 registered voters, 88 percent supported wind power in Maine. Calls to residents in seven rural counties, from Aroostook to Oxford, where most wind power projects are built or planned, showed 83 percent support. Survey results show that Maine residents strongly support wind power development, chiefly because it cuts dependence on fossil fuels and creates jobs. The survey was done by Portland-based Pan Atlantic SMS Group for the Maine Renewable Energy Association.[66]
Some community opposition has arisen, in the form of litigation against mountain wind farms and an ocean wind turbine proposal, as civic activism, and as development of municipal ordinances.[67][68][69][70]
^Hampton, Stuart (30 April 2012). "Statoil to demonstrate floating offshore wind turbines in the US". Bizmology. Hoovers. Retrieved 2012-05-20. Statoil has secured the support of government officials in Maine to develop a demonstration wind park in the US with four full-scale offshore wind turbines.