Offshore wind energy is Maine's largest untapped natural resource.

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Offshore wind energy is clean, renewable, environmentally responsible, and within our reach.

New England Aqua Ventus I Updates

Maine Aqua Ventus I, GP, LLC, is leading a demonstration project called New England Aqua Ventus I, a 12 MW floating offshore wind pilot project to develop a clean, renewable energy source off Maine’s shores.

In an ongoing effort to continue to share project milestones with communities and key stakeholders, we are launching a newsletter to ensure continued dialogue and information sharing as we work toward a planned 2019 deployment.

If you’d like more information about any of these updates, please contact Josh Plourde at (207) 581-2117 or info@maineaquaventus.com.

UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site at Monhegan Island

The University of Maine website on the UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site provides a site overview, environmental data, permitting, and technical details. The test site, established in 2009 by the state legislature, is one of the most extensively studied sites in the Gulf of Maine. Learn more about test site at: umaine.edu/offshorewindtestsite.

Our Commitment to Island and Coastal Communities

NEAV I is designed to meet the objectives of the Ocean Energy Act and Maine legislation to yield tangible economic benefits for Maine, and to lead to even larger-scale, more cost-effective offshore wind developments in Maine and markets worldwide. We are committed to responsible offshore wind development in a manner that includes involvement and guidance by local communities and marine users.

We understand the economic and cultural significance of our coastal and island communities and neighboring waters. Our measured and informed approach to offshore wind development is intended to minimize potential risks or adverse effects on existing industries and the natural environment.

As a result, we are committed that future use of UMaine’s VolturnUS floating technology in commercial projects will be located more than 10 miles from Monhegan Island, other inhabited Maine islands, and the mainland coast.

For more information, contact:
Joshua Plourde
(207) 581-2117
info@maineaquaventus.com

NEPA Public Scoping Sessions

Beginning later this month, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will begin the NEPA Public Scoping Sessions, a federal funding requirement. DOE is requesting public input on defining the scope of environmental impacts and issues to be addressed in the DOE Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project. The public scoping process is the second of six key steps in the NEPA process, and offers an opportunity for public comments and consultations with regulatory agencies. We expect a decision on the NEPA issues by DOE in early 2018. If you would like to offer a public comment, please visit the DOE NEPA webpage for full instructions.

Project Timeline

Since 2010, the Monhegan Test Site has been monitored and studied extensively, resulting in more than 5 years of baseline ecological data, with additional studies planned for this spring.

Project design as well as associated construction, operation and maintenance, grid interconnection, and financial plans will be completed within the year. Initial platform fabrication is slated to begin in 2018, and commercial operation in the UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site is planned for 2019.

Monhegan Energy Task Force

The Monhegan Energy Task Force was charged by Monhegan Plantation to represent Monhegan in communications and negotiations with Maine Aqua Ventus regarding all aspects of the proposed offshore wind project, including the planning, construction, operation, and decommissioning phases. METF maintains a website with more details at: monheganenergy.info.

For several years, METF and MAV have held regular conference calls to share information about project developments and have held several community meetings on the island.

Project Update - January 2017

This past week MAV has continued to work with DOE’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) team to prepare for public scoping sessions ... [Read More.]

Project Update - December 2016

MAV provided the following project update at a community meeting on December 13 ... [Read More.]

About Maine Aqua Ventus

Maine Aqua Ventus I, GP, LLC, is leading a demonstration project called New England Aqua Ventus I, a 12 MW floating offshore wind pilot project to develop a clean, renewable energy source off Maine’s shores. Project participants include Emera Inc., Cianbro Corporation, DCNS, and the University of Maine.

This demonstration project will deploy two 6 MW turbines on VolturnUS, the floating concrete semi-submersible hull designed by UMaine, south of Monhegan Island, off the coast of Maine. Each floating hull/turbine is held in position in the ocean by three marine mooring lines securely anchored to the seabed, with the electrical generation connected by subsea cable to the Maine power grid on shore.

Commercial operation is currently planned for 2019. The New England Aqua Ventus I demonstration project will likely be the first full-scale floating wind project in the Americas.