Maine Offshore Wind Project Abandoned After Norwegian Energy Company Scraps $120 Million Plans

[NickB79]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/15/maine-offshore-wind-project_n_4101271.html

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Norwegian company Statoil announced on Tuesday that it was abandoning a proposed $120 million wind project off the coast of Maine, which industry officials once said could make Maine a leader in offshore wind power, after Republican Gov. Paul LePage's administration maneuvered to reopen the competitive bidding process.

The company said in a statement that changes in terms with the state and scheduling delays "made the project outlook too uncertain to proceed." Statoil said it was focusing on a project in Scotland while continuing to explore the United States' offshore wind market.

Renewable energy industry officials, environmental groups and lawmakers said Tuesday that losing Statoil's project is a significant blow to the state's ability to cultivate an offshore wind industry and doesn't bode well for future investment in the state.

Crap.

[bananas]

1. Republicans suck. nt

[Nihil]

9. You said it!

Instead of being a flagship, "leading the way" state with that project they will now be
just another time- & money-wasting Republican coastal state ... sigh ...

[egold2604]

2. Why would any foreign company want to invest in the US

[hatrack]

3. Way to go, LePage!

What an asshole.

[Laelth]

4. Good. Wind power blows. n/t

-Laelth

[jpak]

8. Cheerleading for Teabaggers?

That blows.

yup

[Champion Jack]

5. A Republican fucks up an alternative energy plan?

Get out here! That can't be right…

[oldhippie]

6. So maybe we'll get an American Company ....

... to do the project, rather than foreigners? Wouldn't that be good?

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. LePage was trying to play favorites with UMO, I think:

http://bangordailynews.com/2013/10/16/politics/political-foes-blast-lepage-for-his-role-in-statoil-departure-from-maine-supporters-say-it-clears-way-for-umaine-project/

[FogerRox]

10. 4 turbines.... The Feds clearly dont want these small time projects

and have approved the Atlantic Wind Connection over projects that are smaller.

This Maine wind farm is a farce anyway, running a 12 mile undersea cable is quite costly, environmental impact study, and only for 4 turbines... seems hardly worth the trouble. And for an immature tech like floating wind turbines, like this project, to be cancelled is much about nothing.

Now if the AWC folded, and its potential 1700 turbines, that would really be a blow to the offshore wind industry in the US.