Maine may get country's first floating (wind) turbines

[jpak]

http://www.pressherald.com/news/plan-calls-for-floating-turbines_2011-12-09.html

SOUTH PORTLAND — The Maine coast could become home to a pilot project to create the country's first deepwater, floating wind farm.

A task force formed by the federal Bureau of Energy Management met Thursday to consider a commercial lease for a test project on the outer continental shelf, roughly 12 miles from the nearest land, in deep water south of the Boothbay Harbor region.

If the four-turbine project wins approvals and the developer goes forward, it could be operating in 2016 and generate as much as 12 megawatts, equivalent to the power needs of about 18,000 homes.

The meeting was scheduled after the Norwegian energy giant Statoil North America Inc. filed an unsolicited application to the federal agency in October.

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bring it

yup

[MarianJack]

1. A K&R for my adopted home state!

Now watch the oil companies try to claim ownership of the air!

PEACE!

[Bob Wallace]

2. 1st Floater

The first floating wind turbine/tower was just launched in the last couple of weeks off the coast of Portugal.

There are great winds offshore and this technology will greatly increase our ability to supply the grid with clean wind power.

http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/12/floating-wind-turbine-deployed-in-atlantic/