UMaine to Discuss Offshore Wind Transmission Link with Local Communities (USA)

Residents of three coastal towns in the state of Maine will get insight into the early plans for a transmission line related to Maine’s floating offshore wind project, the Aqua Ventus I.

Representatives from the University of Maine, in charge of the project, will meet with residents of Town of Friendship, Bristol and Port Clyde to present their initial plans for a transmission link that could run through one of these locations, according to the Bangor Daily News.

“We have several routes that are evolving, and we’ll be showing them at those meetings,” Jake Ward, UMaine’s vice president for innovation and economic development, explained.

Even though an actual plan has not yet been determined for this part of the project, the developers want to identify possible locations where the line might come onto land. Research work for the transmission link is still ongoing, and officials behind the Aqua Ventus’ project are trying to find the location by discussing potential places with local communities.

The line will run under water from turbines to land. It will then be connected to a Central Maine Power substation near New Harbor.

Yesterday, the developers released the public version of the proposal for the floating offshore wind project in the Gulf of Maine, after the Maine Public Utilities Commission had ruled that Maine Aqua Ventus should release some of the details on its project proposal.

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Offshore WIND Staff, November 7, 2013; Image: Maine Aqua Ventus