The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has deemed Statoil North America legally, technically and financially qualified to undertake a pilot wind farm project about 12 miles off the Maine coast. The next step in the federal offshore leasing process is to determine whether there are other wind energy developers interested in the proposed Gulf of Maine lease site.
Last October, Statoil submitted a request for a commercial wind lease for its Hywind Maine pilot wind park, which would consist of four 3-mega watt turbines placed at water depths greater than 100 meters in a 22-square-mile lease area.
In a conference call on May 23, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management told state and federal wind farm task force members that it will soon determine if there is any competitive interest for the proposed lease and seek public comment on Statoil's proposal, its potential environmental consequences and impacts on other uses in the proposed lease area.
If the Bureau determines there is no competitive interest in the site, the leasing process will then focus on Statoil's specific construction and operation plans, which will be analyzed for consistency with the National Environmental Policy Act and other applicable laws.
If there are other qualified developers with a competitive interest in the lease site, the bureau will first go through a competitive lease sale process before considering any specific construction and operation plans.
State Rep. Bruce MacDonald, a task force member, said the exact time frame has not been determined, but he expects a notice will be issued sometime in the next three to six weeks. He said he will ensure that local fishermen and other concerned parties are informed when the federal notice/request for comments is issued.
MacDonald said that Statoil has made the decision to pursue the wind park proposal at least through the permitting phase.
Statoil will hold an open house at the Boothbay Fire House on Monday, June 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. MacDonald described the open house as an opportunity for residents to learn more about the proposed project directly from Statoil representatives and Tetra Tech, its local environmental consultants.
"I've been urging Statoil to bend over backwards to meet with the public," MacDonald said. "My suspicion is this is the first of a number of public meetings they will hold."
Statoil will also hold open houses at the Rockland Public Library on Tuesday, June 26, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland on Wednesday, June 27, from 4 to 7 p.m.
MacDonald said he encourages local residents to take advantage of opportunities to learn more and to comment on the wind farm proposal.
"I do want people to understand that there is a huge difference between conversations at Statoil's open houses and comments provided to U.S. government agencies that will be making decisions on this proposal," he said.
