MAINE SHORE – ENERGY HUB?

Experts at a recent conference in Maine said the obstacles to development of the state’s enormous and potentially wealth-generating offshore wind and coastal wave/tide energy assets are (1) out-of-date, burdensome regulations, (2) unproven technology and (3) a NIMBY (not in my backyard) public attitude.

No, that cannot be. Those are the obstacles preventing the development of New Energy in Massachusetts. Obstacles can't be in more than one place at the same time, can they? If they could, they’d be SUPEROBSTACLES! LOOK – UP IN THE SKY! IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE – NO – IT’S SUPEROBSTACLES!

Arthur C. Clarke, the immortal Sci-Fi writer and futurist, said good ideas go through 3 phases: (1) It can’t be done. (2) It probably can be done, but it’s not worth it. (3) I knew it was a good idea all along.

Maine’s leaders have long struggled to overcome a recalcitrant population’s disinclination toward change but at a recent conference on developing the state’s enormous offshore wind and ocean energy assets some expressed the sense that the present energy crunch will at last require innovation and bring about Clarke’s 3rd phase.

Angus King, Governor, Maine: "I think this is the most serious crisis ever to face the state of Maine…Therefore, we need to think about it in new ways."

To be fair to Maine, part of the problem is technical. Offshore Maine is deep waters, presenting technical challenges. (For technical solutions, see OFFSHORE OIL SCIENCE BRINGS OFFSHORE WIND IN)

Regulatory complexities are as much a federal problem as a state problem. Governor King and others called for streamlining the state’s regulatory complex.

NIMBY issues, which have stymied offshore projects in Texas and Massachusets, prevent developers from being more active in Maine. But the head of the state’s Office of Energy Independence and Security pointed out that the urgency the Governor described is more than just an urgent practical matter.

John Kerry, Office of Energy Independence and Security head, Maine: "I can assure you the people of Maine, and especially the poor, they are in an energy crisis…We have a moral responsibility to address this and address it now."

Sounds like an important challenge. Will Maine take the same 7 years (and counting) the fat cats in Massachusetts took to face it?

Maine's shoreline has amazing wind assets. (click to enlarge)

Maine waters, wind touted as untapped energy
Kevin Miller, June 13, 2008 (Bamgor Daily News)

WHO
Organizers (University of Maine School of Law’s Center for Law & Innovation; Gulf of Maine Research Institute) Speakers (Walter Musial, senior engineer, National Wind Technology Center (NWTC)/National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); Peter Mandelstam, wind developer, Bluewater Wind); Ocean Renewable Power Co.

WHAT
At “The Power of the Gulf: Considering Ocean Energy in Maine” experts advocated for the development of the state’s enormous offshore wind and coastal wave/tide energy assets.

Maine has some of the best wave energy assets in the U.S. (From EPRI - click to enlarge)

WHEN
The conference was June 12.

WHERE
- Europe has 20 offshore wind installations (1100 megawatts)and some pilot ocean energy projects.
- Bluewater Wind is developing a 450-megawatt wind farm 11.5 miles off the Delaware coast.
- Ocean Renewable Power Co. recently completed a pilot tidal energy project using underwater turbines in Western Passage and Cobscook Bay near Eastport, Maine.

WHY
- The conference had 150 attendees.
- Around the U.S. several offshore wind installations are struggling to get out of the planning and environmental impact stage and into the construction phase. The U.S. also has some pilot ocean energy projects in the works.
- Maine has one productive onshore wind installations, two in construction and more in the works.
- Despite assessments predicting great potential in Maine’s offshore winds (133,00 megawatts), no offshore wind projects have made it to the planning stage.
- Ocean energy projects are being tested.

The state also has exceptional tidal energy potential. (From EPRI - click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Walter Musial, senior engineer, National Wind Technology Center(NWTC)/National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): "These deep water machines really need to be developed before this resource can be tapped…"
- Peter Mandelstam, wind developer, Bluewater Wind, on state and federal regulatory complexities: "What any developer wants is a clear road map…If there are 10 hurdles or 100 hurdles, that’s OK as long as there is a clear road map…"