Maine Aqua Ventus Gets Power Contract

The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved the power purchase contract for the Maine Aqua Ventus floating offshore wind project.

The Maine PUC said it had voted unanimously to approve the contract for the 12MW demonstration wind farm that will be located offshore Monhegan Island in the Gulf of Maine.

“The Commission is pleased to approve this contract which provides MAV the opportunity to demonstrate the commercial viability of this technology while also providing Maine with a new clean renewable energy resource,” said Maine PUC Chairman Philip L. Bartlett.

In June, the Governor of Maine Janet Mills signed into law legislation requiring the PUC to approve the power purchase contract for the project, after delaying the decision on the agreement in January 2018 to allow more time for public comment.

Maine Aqua Ventus will deploy two 6MW turbines on VolturnUS, the floating concrete semi-submersible hull designed by the University of Maine (UMaine). The 12MW project is expected to be installed offshore in 2020.