Final Maine ocean wind bill may bar windfarms from state waters; limit them in federal waters and encourage them in the Exclusive Economic Zone. FMI Contact Penobscot Bay Watch 207-691-7485 coastwatch@gmail.com
AUGUSTA On March 18, 2010, Maine Legislature’s Utility and Energy Committee held a 2 hour work session on LD 1810, the bill to implement the recommendations of the Governor’s Ocean Energy Task Force. Scroll down to listen to the speakers and legislators at this worksession (mp3s) Listen to March 11th public hearing on LD 1810 Mp3s
Due to the presence of Maine fishermen and oceanic beauty in virtually every square foot of Maine state ocean waters, commercial windfarm companies may be required by the legislation to keep out of Maine state waters; in exchange, the industry seeks nonconfrontation with the fishing industry further offshore.
“Fishermen, resorts, the schooner fleets, a variety of human users are already fully exploiting Maine’s nearshore natural resources.” said Ron Huber “They can only be harmed if the industrial wind companies began leasing nearshore waters.”
Because of the complexity of the 38 page bill, (see pdf copy of LD 1810 with state waters parts highlighted) the committee could not get through the entire bill and will meet again on Tuesday at 1pm
The Maine Lobstermen’s Association will work through the weekend on acceptable wording protecting fisheries. Doubtless other fisheries as well. The ocean windmill industry is no doubt busy, too, hoping to reinclude permssion to do windpower in state waters in the bill.
Listen to speakers at the March 18, 2010 Hearing
* Introduction to the Worksession 4min
* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky describes proposed changes to Bill Part A 17 minutes
* MDEP’s Nagusky Q&A session 11 minutes
* Patrice Farrell, Maine Lobstermen’s Association 3 & 1/2 minutes
* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky describes proposed changes to Part B of LD 1811
* John Ferland Ocean Renewable Energy Corp 1 minutes
* Dianne Messer, advocate, Liberty Maine 2 minutes
* Chris O’Neill, Friends of Maine Mountains 1 minutes
* Todd Rousette (sp?) Preti Flaherty lawfirm 2 minutes
* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky describes more changes to Part B
* MDEPs Beth Nagusky on changes to Part C of bill
* MDEP’s Beth Nagusky on changes to Part D of bill
* MDEP Beth Nagusky on Changed to Part E of Bill
* MDEP Beth Nagusky questioned on Part E 7 min
* MDEP Beth Nagusky questioned more 10 minutes
* University of Maine Dr Dagher 12 minutes
* Final stakeholders and close of work session 11 minutes
The unexpectedly loud powerful opposition to the bill by Maine scallopers, shrimpers and groundfishermen, joined by ocean resort and sailing interests and conservation activist Huber, may be bearing fruit. “We won’t just stand by and let the Department of Conservation start leasing out Maine’s legendary fishing and sailing grounds to big energy companies out of Boston and New Jersey.” said Huber who is the litigant in the aforementioned Huber v Bureau of Parks and Lands lawsuit over the Monhegan floating test site.
He said the bill would allow companies to seek 20, 40 and 50 year leases over state waters. “Are we really ready for that?” Huber asked. “I don’t think so. Neither do most fishermen I know.“ The ocean windmill industry is probably busy this weekend too, he said, hoping to regain language in the bill allowing windpower in state waters in the bill.
Heuber said That the Maine Lobstermen’s Association leadership, which had been negotiating behind closed doors with the wind industry, had to be taken to task by scallop, shrimp and groundfish fleets and its own rank and file before it stopped supporting DMR’s “Prepare to Share” campaign, as described by George Lapointe at the wind energy seminar at the 2010 Maine Fishermens Forum.
On March 23rd, all interests will be back in Augusta before the Utility and Energy Committee for a 1pm final showdown on LD 1810
