Dear Editor:

Maine has a chance to be at the forefront of a new offshore wind industry. The winds in the Gulf of Maine are strong and some of the most consistent in the world.  We can turn that wind into power.

Maine’s Legislature has passed a bill that ensures that local workers and towns benefit from any new port facilities that will be built to serve the offshore wind industry.  Thank you to Rep. Holly Stover for her support of that policy.

Now, we need the Legislature to pass LD 1895, An Act Regarding the Procurement of Energy from Offshore Wind Resources. 

These two bills will ensure that Mainers set high environmental standards for offshore wind, that workers benefit from strong labor standards, and that we protect and invest in our fisheries. If passed, LD 1895 would send a strong message to the federal government to develop offshore wind outside of Lobster Management Area 1, where the vast majority of commercial fishing takes place.

Our country needs to produce more clean renewable energy, and we need to do it in ways that benefits workers, protects communities and safeguards our environment, including important Maine fishing waters.

There’s a large coalition of people – union workers, environmental activists, businesses and nonprofits – all working together to ensure that we take care of workers, the environment and fisheries. 

Now is the time to act.

Mary Hanley

Southport