Islands Coalition updated on Maine’s offshore wind plans

A group of island representatives and invited guests attended The Maine Islands Coalition (MIC) quarterly meeting on Friday, November 13 in Rockland at the Island Institute. Coalition Chair, Roger Berle introduced the main topic for discussion: ocean energy siting legislation and Maine. Panelists Kathleen Leyden, Maine State Planning Office Coastal Program; George LaPointe, commissioner of the Maine Department of Maine Resources; Suzanne Pude, director of the Island Institute's Maine Coast Community Wind Program; and David McGlinchey, Vineyard Energy Project participated in a interactive presentation.

Kathleen Leyden spoke about the process used in Maine to select potential deep-water demonstration wind test sites. Following a legislative mandate, the state identified seven areas as possible demonstration sites for testing wind power equipment. The initial seven are now down to four sites. The sites are located within Maine coastal waters, in waters more than 200 feet deep, have average wind resources of greater than 17 mph, and are not in areas with obstructions. Leyden emphasized the importance of involving the community through public meetings, workgroups, and comment periods. More information is available at: http://www.maine.gov/doc/initiatives/oceanenergy/oceanenergy.shtml.

Stressing the need to share resources, George LaPointe spoke to how marine resources, resource users and the developers of demonstration areas for testing off shore wind technology need to learn together and ease into the relationship. Suzanne Pude described the Maine Coast Community Wind work. The work has engaged local communities in ways that may serve as teaching tools for the coast.

McGlinchey has been involved with the State of Massachusetts Ocean Planning Process, which is separate from the Cape Wind project, sited in federal waters. Speaking about his experience with wind siting off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, David McGlinchey shared his views on what has worked well and what might have worked better. He noted that talking with the fishing community early and having a plan for outreach is a key factor to build understanding. The mistake is not addressing community misperceptions directly and quickly.

Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree, Charles Kruger (District 48), Andrew O'Brien (District 44) and Meredith Strang Burgess (District 108) attended the meeting. Pingree noted that this legislative session would tackle the budget deficit making some very difficult decisions. Representative Strange Burgess commented on the need to continue providing home weatherization, the challenges of the health and human services work within a tight state budget, and the issue of ethanol legislation.

Jen Litteral, Island Institute Policy Director and Gillian Garratt-Reed, Island Institute Marine Programs Coordinator provided an update on Working Waterfront legislation, the Lobster Task Force, Herring, and Ground Fish Legislation.

The Maine Islands Coalition is a collaboration of island representatives advocating for the economic and environmental sustainability of year-round island communities. Facilitated by Island Institute staff, yet an independent body, the MIC discusses issues with a goal of providing a consistent voice on behalf of the islands. The minutes of the November meeting will be posted on the Island Institute website http://www.islandinstitute.org/maine_islands_coalition.php.

Mary K. Terry is the Island Institute's Casco Bay Affordable Housing Fellow.