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Poll results

Sponsored by: OTELCO

Ideas have long floated for generating electricity from offshore wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine. Proponents such as the Governor's Energy Office tout the benefits of developing a new, Maine-based renewable energy source. The fishing industry, however, has raised concerns about the turbines' impact on marine habitat and on the livelihoods of fishermen.

Now an agreement between a wind-power company and the Maine Building and Construction Trades Council creates a framework for involving labor groups in offshore wind development. The agreement could lead to the creation of hundreds of union construction jobs — and another stakeholder in the offshore wind debate.

Overall, would the development of offshore wind power benefit Maine's businesses and economy?
Yes (73%, 340 VOTES)
No (27%, 127 VOTES)
Poll Description

Sponsored by: OTELCO

Ideas have long floated for generating electricity from offshore wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine. Proponents such as the Governor's Energy Office tout the benefits of developing a new, Maine-based renewable energy source. The fishing industry, however, has raised concerns about the turbines' impact on marine habitat and on the livelihoods of fishermen.

Now an agreement between a wind-power company and the Maine Building and Construction Trades Council creates a framework for involving labor groups in offshore wind development. The agreement could lead to the creation of hundreds of union construction jobs — and another stakeholder in the offshore wind debate.

  • 467 Votes
  • 15 Comments
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15 Comments

  • April 12, 2021

    If Ex Gov. Le Page hadn’t reneged on the Statoil deal we would have had this years ago...

  • Clifford Goudey
    April 12, 2021

    The fishing industry does not like any restrictions on its freedom to fish. However, most species are mobile and any area that becomes off limits due to wind turbines effectively becomes a Marine Protected Area (MPA) and will help in the rebuilding of stocks and ecosystems. Even sessile organisms will procreate to expand their populations. It's been shown that fisheries improve with the establishment and expansion of MPAs, so any short term losses will be more that compensated in the near future. The greater Gulf of Maine ecosystems and populations of commercial stocks will be seeded by the MPAs.

  • April 12, 2021

    We need to diversify our energy sources and our industry. Maine had the chance to be a leader in this - now we are catching up.

  • April 12, 2021

    Wind and Solar Power are the Future. Not seeing this means you are what makes Fossil Fuel.

  • Francis Weld
    April 12, 2021

    We need to rapidly decarbonize energy generation. The wind resource in the waters of eastern Maine must be developed in cooperation with Maine's working waterfront.