USA: UMaine to Reveal Details of Offshore Wind Energy Project

The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has ruled that the Maine Aqua Ventus, a consortium membered by the University of Maine and its partner companies, should release some of the details on its offshore wind project proposal by the end of October, reported the Associated Press.

Even though the Maine Aqua Ventus said that releasing information would harm its chances for a $46 million energy grant, the PUC made this ruling due to the pressure from environmental groups and lawmakers.

The PUC Chairman Thomas Welch commented: “There’s much in the proposal that would assist the public to understand the outlines and basic structure of the proposal that would present little or no risk to competitive harm.”

He also added that Maine Aqua Ventus will work with the PUC staff over the next few weeks to determine what has to be released and what can remain confidential.

[mappress]

Offshore WIND staff, October 9, 2013; Image: UMaine