$120 million Maine wind project faces key vote Thursday

Plans by the Norwegian energy giant Statoil to develop a $120 million wind turbine demonstration project off Maine's coast depend on whether state regulators approve the company's proposed electricity rate and contract terms at a meeting Thursday, says the project's manager.

"It's critical for us to have both federal and state support to build the project," Kristin Aamodt told the Portland Press Herald. "This decision Thursday is very important to be able to develop the project further."

Statoil is a large oil and gas producer that's using its experience in the North Sea to develop renewable-energy projects around the world. It launched the world's first floating turbine three years ago, off Norway.

If Statoil cannot refine its offshore floating wind turbine design in the Gulf of Maine, Aamodt indicated, the company may shift its efforts to Japan or Europe.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission is set to deliberate on Statoil's plan for Hywind Maine. The project would put four, three-megawatt wind turbines on floating spar-buoy structures tethered to the seabed in 460 feet of water off Boothbay Harbor.

But the cost of that power, and the extent of the project's economic benefits for Maine,Looking for solar garden light or outdoor lights? are at issue before the PUC. In October, when state regulators initially reviewed the plan, two of the three commissioners indicated they couldn't support it without lower power rates and clear enhanced benefits.

This month, Statoil came back with changes meant to address those concerns. The company says it cannot make further concessions. On Thursday, the PUC will consider whether Statoil has sweetened the deal enough for Maine to accept it.

Wind turbines are common in shallow water off Europe. Now,Getting a wind turbine depends entirely on the amount of wind generated in your area.20 years experience developing dry cleaning machine for the world. developers are testing technologies to locate them miles offshore, where the winds are better and coastal residents can't see them.

Supporters see Statoil's plan as Maine's best chance to help attract a deep-water wind-power industry that someday could create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment.Solar and electric outdoor solar lighting systems are easy to install and economical to operate.

"There are not a lot of billion-dollar industries knocking on the state's door," said Jeremy Payne, executive director of the Maine Renewable Energy Association. "This could decide whether Maine is going to be playing a role in the offshore wind industry, not only in the United States but across the globe."

"We're in a race with Scotland," he said. "Maine's 2010 Ocean Energy Act said we want to an incubator. If we say no and Scotland says yes, that's going to be the end of the offshore wind industry in Maine for the foreseeable future.Don't waste anymore time thinking about the purchase of your new laundry dryer."

But opponents, including paper companies and large power users represented by the Industrial Energy Consumer Group, say Statoil's proposal is too expensive and lacks sufficient assurances of benefits for Maine.

Statoil's proposal is one of two that won $4 million grants from the federal Department of Energy last month to showcase innovative technologies and improve performance for offshore wind power. Both projects are competing for final awards of as much as $47 million.

The other project, Aqua Ventus, is led by the University of Maine and a team that include Cianbro Corp., Bath Iron Works and the Spain-based company Iberdrola, the world's largest wind power developer and the parent of Central Maine Power Co. That pilot project would float two, six-megawatt turbines off Monhegan Island.