PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Members of the fishing industry in Maine said they remain skeptical of plans to develop offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine in the wake of a moratorium proposed by the state’s governor.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat who supports offshore wind, has proposed a 10-year moratorium on offshore wind projects in state waters. She also pledged Monday to continue involving members of the fishing industry in plans for offshore wind off Maine.
Mills’s announcement comes as the state is working with New England Aqua Ventus on a project that would be the first floating offshore wind research array in the country.
Several fishing groups released a statement late Monday that said they “understand and support the need to develop clean renewable energy sources, but do not share the governor’s vision to achieve this through rushed offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine.”
The fishing groups said they are concerned that development of wind energy off Maine will harm longstanding industries such as lobster fishing. Mills has said her moratorium will prevent offshore wind projects from happening in nearshore waters that are more heavily fished.
She has also said the state will work with fishermen to protect their industry.
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