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U.S Senator challenges floating demonstrator project

4C Offshore | Tom Russell
By: Tom Russell 10/02/2017 4C Offshore
U.S Senator Dana Dow has submitted legislation challenging the New England Aqua Ventus I offshore wind farm which is proposed to be located off the coast of Monhegan Island.

The Bill (LR 1613) titled "An Act To Protect Monhegan Island" would prohibit the placement of a wind energy test area to be located within 10 miles of the Monhegan Lobester Conservation Area. The Senator believes that the Bill is critical to "safeguard the area’s legacy" and is necessary to "protect the population of migratory birds that use the island as an important landfall along the North Atlantic Flyway."

Senator Dow said in a statement: “Mainers would never allow a massive wind turbine experiment to be placed within a short distance from the top of Mount Katahdin or near the shores of Acadia National Park, because these are special places and so is Monhegan Island.

“Having said this, I firmly believe that the final decision rests with the permanent residents of the island who need to determine the merits of this bill. I believe the need is to finally settle this issue so that outside interests will know whether they can build this project or move onto a different area. I will be available to Monhegan residents to help resolve this issue.”


Back in 2009, the Aqua Ventus I site was selected by the Department of Conservation as one of three potential wind energy test areas off the coast of Maine. Project company Maine Aqua Ventus I is leading the development of the wind farm and is owned by partners, Emera, Cianbro Corporation, DCNS and the University of Maine and UMiane's Advanced Structures and Composite Centre.

The 12MW floating offshore wind pilot project aims to demonstration the viability of floating offshore wind by deploying two 6MW turbines on VolturnUS, the floating concrete semi-submersible foundation designed by UMaine, south of Monhegan Island, off the coast of Maine. The foundations will be held in position 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.

Deployment was planned for 2019 and if it goes ahead it is likely to be the first full-scale floating wind project in the U.S.

For more information please follow the links provided. You can
click here to view the project on our interactive map.

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