The combined lease areas amount to over 400,000 acres and are estimated to generate 6.8 GW, enough to power 2.3 million US homes and businesses.
These lease areas will be supported by a thriving network of offshore wind port and supply chain facilities that now spans 39 states, the result of over $22 billion in investment since 2020. The projects developed in the Gulf of Maine will drive even more investment to the region, delivering new jobs and increasing local economic activity.
“Today's successful auction demonstrates that offshore wind will continue to play a leading role in the Northeast's energy future” said Liz Burdock, CEO of Oceantic Network. “These lease areas will deliver well-paying, local jobs, and drive significant investment in manufacturing facilities, ports, and transmission development. Despite the general uncertainty around the upcoming presidential election, this is a vote of confidence for an American industry that has already received nearly $3 billion of new supply chain investment in the first nine months of 2024. With ample acreage for new projects and a state research lease, BOEM is helping to position Maine as a hub of innovation that will fuel the development of floating offshore wind technology in the US and globally. “We look forward to continuing work with BOEM, the State of Maine, and interested stakeholders to pursue responsible offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine.”
Development in the Gulf of Maine also presents opportunities for international collaboration with Canadian provinces. In September, US Northeast governors and Eastern Canadian provincial leaders discussed opportunities for collaboration between the two regions at the 45th annual New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG-ECP) meeting. In October, Oceantic Network hosted its first annual New England & Atlantic Canada OSW Forum to further discuss these collaborative opportunities, including transmission planning and port development.
In waters too deep for traditional fixed-bottom wind turbines, the areas require the utilization of floating offshore wind technology. Lessees also agreed to stipulations designed to promote the floating offshore wind supply chain, transmission planning, and well-paying union jobs.
The announcement follows the issuance of an offshore wind research lease to the state of Maine in August. This lease enables the state - in collaboration with the fishing community, wildlife experts, and industry leaders - to construct a 144 MW pilot project and conduct studies that will inform future floating offshore wind development in the region and beyond.
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