Gulf of Maine Floating Offshore Wind Research Array: Preferred Site

Based on analysis of the available information and input from stakeholders and other state agencies, the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) identified a preferred site for the proposed floating offshore wind research array within a narrowed area of interest in the Gulf of Maine. To arrive at this preferred site, GEO balanced a number of factors, such as impacts on fisheries and wildlife, navigation, costs, and more. GEO accepted comments on this preferred site through July 30, 2021 to inform its final preferred site for the research array lease application to the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

For more about this process and analysis: 

• Read the Stakeholder Input and Siting Update (PDF)
• Watch a replay of the Siting Update webinar
• Visit BOEM's Gulf of Maine Research Lease Application webpage

Initial Stakeholder Webinars

Dec. 15, 2020: Fisheries Webinar #1

• Meeting Presentation (PDF)
• Recording: Dec. 15

Dec. 16, 2020: Fisheries Webinar #2

• Meeting Presentation (PDF)
• Recording: Dec. 16

Dec. 17, 2020: General Interest Webinar #1

• Meeting Presentation (PDF)
• Recording: Dec. 17

Dec. 22, 2020: Fisheries Webinar #3

• Meeting Presentation (PDF)
• Recording: Dec. 22

Feb. 5, 2021: Stakeholder Planning and Knowledge Sharing Workshop

• Meeting notice
• Agenda
• Speaker Bios
• Meeting Recording
• References

Presentations

• Welcome (Cunningham)   
• Floating OSW Technology (Akers)
• Research Array Overview (Wissemann) 
• Siting (Cunningham) 
• Wind and G&G Data (Brady) 
• Wildlife and Data Portals (Schumchenia)
• Federal Fisheries Data (Christel) 
• State Fisheries Data (Reardon) 
• Next Steps (Cunningham)

Research Array Informational and Work Sessions

Feb. 26, 2021: Building Our Understanding of the Current Offshore Wind Floating Technology

• Agenda (link to PDF)
• Walt Musial's Presentation (link to PDF)
• Recording

March 5, 2021: Wildlife Work Session #1

• Agenda (link to PDF)
• Intro Slides (link to PDF)
• Bird and Bat Slides (link to PDF)
• Marine Mammal Slides (link to PDF)
• Meeting Notes (link to PDF)
• Recording

March 10, 2021: Fisheries Work Session #1

• Agenda (link to PDF)
• Fisheries Slides (link to PDF)
• Meeting Notes (link to PDF)
• Recording

March 26, 2021: Gathering Insight into OSW Cable Laying and Maintenance

• Agenda (PDF)
• Joel Whitman's Cable Installation Overview Slides (PDF)
• Zoe Hutchison's EMF Slides (PDF)
• Joel Whitman's Interarray Cable Slides (PDF)
• Recording

March 26, 2021: Wildlife Work Session #2

• Agenda (link to PDF)
• Fisheries Work Session Update (link to PDF)
• Bird Analysis Slides (link to PDF)
• Meeting Notes (link to PDF)
• Recording

March 30, 2021: UK Lessons: -- Global Perspective on Offshore Wind Supply Chain Opportunities for Maine 

This webinar was hosted by the United Kingdom and Carbon Trust in partnership with the State of Maine and the Maine International Trade Center. Participants will hear from experts and participate in Q&A on how the UK has helped companies pivot to offshore wind, as well as supply chain lessons learned from Hywind (Scotland), the first floating offshore wind commercial installation in the world.

• Video Recording (link to YouTube)
• Presentations and Summary (PDF)

March 31, 2021: Fisheries Work Session #2

• Agenda (link to PDF)
• Slides (link to PDF)
• Meeting Notes (link to PDF)
• Recording

July 13, 2021: Joint Fisheries and Wildlife Work Session #3

• Agenda (link to PDF)
• Slides (link to PDF)
• Meeting notes (link to PDF)
• Recording

The findings of these work sessions will be carried into the state’s broader offshore wind roadmap effort, which will have various working groups continuing to review these topics and more.

• Wildlife Work Sessions Process (PDF)
• Fisheries Work Sessions Process (PDF)

Siting Criteria

Offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine must be developed responsibly. The State is committed to working with fishing and other interests in considering where any offshore wind projects could be located and work to minimize any negative impacts.

• Read the Stakeholder Input and Siting Update (PDF).
• Watch a replay of the Siting Update webinar. 
• Overview of Siting and Research Framework Process (PDF)
• Siting and Stakeholder Feedback Survey
• Interactive GIS Siting Map of the Gulf of Maine
• Static GIS Map of the Gulf of Maine (PDF)
• Interactive map of General Research Array Location from the Northeast Data Portal

For full information and background, visit GEO’s research array webpage. For more information, please contact offshorewind@maine.gov.