On February 20, 2024, Governor Janet Mills announced that the State would pursue developing a commercial-scale floating offshore wind manufacturing, assembling and launching facility on Sears Island that would lead to an industrial future for Penobscot Bay. Since then, a great deal has changed in the offshore wind world, making this an appropriate time to re-evaluate the offshore wind initiative.

Among the significant changes since February 2024 are:

• The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) applied for four federal grants to fund development of Sears Island. All failed. 

•  The results of a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Gulf of Maine offshore wind lease auction in October 2024 revealed  minimal industry interest in Gulf of Maine floating offshore wind development.

• The power purchase contract negotiations between the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Diamond Offshore Wind (aka Pinetree Wind) have stalled.

• Chris Wissemann, CEO of Diamond Offshore Wind, partner with Maine for a 10-turbine research array, said, “There's no demonstrated need for the [Sears Island] port. Maine doesn’t have contracts to buy offshore wind power and hasn’t finalized a power purchase agreement for its test array. The state should scale back to a facility that serves that [research] project, but could expand for future commercial customers.”

•  In December 2024, Connecticut officials announced that the state will not be participating in a three-state effort to bring more offshore wind power to New England. The other two states (Massachusetts and Rhode Island) agreed to purchase less than half of the wind power originally intended.

•  Opposition to all offshore wind and climate change denial increased after the November 2024 federal election. 

• Recent Presidential Executive Orders related to offshore wind slowing or stopping offshore wind development at this time•. 

These new circumstances offer an opportunity for Maine to re-evaluate the offshore wind initiative and take creative steps toward the goal of procuring 3,000 MW of offshore wind energy production without any development on Sears Island.

In response to the current lack of federal funds to develop Sears Island and a less than optimal offshore wind business environment, but recognizing the urgency of climate change response, the Governor’s administration can realign Maine’s strategy to incrementally further offshore wind energy development by pursuing the Research Array, remaining patient for commercial-scale offshore wind development in the future, all while balancing this industry with our maritime heritage and existing marine uses to ensure sustainable preservation of Maine’s natural resources.

The 10 or 12 Research Array turbines do not need a large manufacturing facility, as was proposed for the commercial-scale Sears Island development.

Stephen Miller lives on Islesboro and is a member of the Islesboro Islands Trust