Maine Lobstermen have been spared — for now — from the potentially devastating effects of offshore wind turbine development on their livelihoods.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced the final map for the Gulf of Maine Wind Energy Area (WEA), excluding a historic lobstering area after Maine officials petitioned for its removal from the plan.
“This decision preserves vital fishing grounds and seeks to minimize potential environmental and ecological impacts to the Gulf of Maine. We look forward to reviewing the final map in detail and urge the Bureau to continue to engage with Maine’s fishing industry, coastal communities, Tribal governments, and other key maritime users and stakeholders as the commercial leasing process moves forward,” said Gov Janet Mills (D-Maine) in a statement following the announcement.
Initially, the BOEM was considering a WEA which would have included over 200,000 acres of the historic Lobester Management Area (LMA) 1, an area essential to the lobstering industry in Maine.
After the BOEM unveiled its plan, Maine’s congressional delegation, alongside Gov. Mills, penned multiple letters, in June and November, petitioning the organization to exclude LMA 1 from its plan entirely.
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) even proposed legislature to exclude the lobstering area from offshore wind plans, but that legislature did not pass the U.S. House.
The BOEM eventually decided to exclude the area from their final plan, which nevertheless includes roughly 2 million Acres of ocean off the costs of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
This is Great news,….. They should scrap the entire off-shore wind power idea, completely now,…..
Nuclear is clean energy,…. Wind, ‘n solar is nowhere near close to clean,….
I don’t think most people around here realize how big these things are.
Just from the surface of the water to the top is about 850 ft. 85 stories!
Then there’s the structure below the water line.
Have fun dealing with them freezing in the winter.
The windmills also dump warm water into the gulf and 8 gallons of oil a year per windmill leaks into the water. Not environmentally healthy for lobster, urchins , scallops, fish, etc.
Good riddance!!!