Maine Governor Janet Mills is leading a delegation to Norway and Denmark this week to engage with government and energy leaders about the offshore wind industry. This six-day trip aims to establish Maine as a global leader in the responsible development of offshore wind energy.
The delegation will first visit Norway, where they will explore floating wind turbines in Bergen and Haugesund and meet with local officials. Following this, they will head to Denmark to engage with the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, participate in a roundtable with the Danish Confederation of Industry, and tour an offshore wind port and a wind test center in Esbjerg.
Governor Mills has emphasized Maine’s potential in offshore wind power, noting its capacity to produce clean energy, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and create jobs in an expanding global industry. However, the initiative has encountered resistance from Maine’s lobstering industry, which is concerned about potential disruptions to fishing areas.
In recent developments, Maine has selected Sears Island in Penobscot Bay as a key site for its floating offshore wind power hub and received federal approval to install up to 12 floating turbines in the Gulf of Maine. This project aims to assess how offshore wind can coexist with other ocean users and marine ecosystems.