Statoil Puts Maine Offshore Wind Pilot Project on Hold (LePage Douchebaggery)

[jpak]

http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNewsArchive/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3475/ItemId/28801/Default.aspx

Norwegian energy giant Statoil announced today that it is preparing to put its deep-water, offshore wind energy pilot project indefinitely on hold. The company had previously gotten preliminary approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission to develop the floating wind park. But in a letter to the PUC, Statoil's vice president for wind business development said a recent amendment approved earlier this month by Maine lawmakers puts the future of a contract for the Hywind Maine project in doubt. Jennifer Mitchell has the story.

In the letter, Statoil Vice President Lars Johannes Nordli says the company is considering several other locations for the pilot project and "cannot continue to spend its resources on this project without certainty that a contract for the project output will be finalized." The measure passed by the Legislature re-opens bidding for the pilot project to the University of Maine.

<snip>

The measure gives the university until the first of September to submit its own proposal. For his part, Gov. Paul LePage thinks Maine's flagship university should have the ability to compete for a project that's going to benefit the state and beyond, according to his spokeswoman Adrienne Bennett.

And the director of the Governor's Energy Office, Patrick Woodcock, says there are additional factors to consider. "We really should be getting a maximum return on an investment of up to $200 million the ratepayers would be subsidizing. Frankly, when you look at Statoil's term sheet, it did not deliver on a basic requirement of establishing an industrial base to manufacture and develop offshore wind."

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This was a done deal until LePage vetoed an omnibus energy bill. The legislature amended the bill to appease LePage and the GOP.

They fucked it all up.

Yup

[bluedigger]

1. Good luck with this.

I didn't get much traction when I posted it Sunday.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/112748536

[hatrack]

2. Christ, this douchebag could fuck up a three-car funeral procession

Unbelievable.

So sad to hear he may not run again.