University of Maine Offshore Wind Track Part of Jan. 25 Maine Wind Energy Conference

Contact: Elizabeth Viselli, Associate Program Manager
Advanced Structures and Composites Center
DeepCwind Consortium 207-221-5639
elizabeth.viselli@umit.maine.edu
207-581-2831

Contact: Sue Jones, Conference Coordinator
sue@communityenergypartners.com

ORONO — The University of Maine will present an exciting addition to the Maine Wind Working Group’s Maine Wind Energy Conference, scheduled for next week in Augusta. The wind energy track, scheduled for 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday Jan. 25, will feature UMaine researchers and others providing details about Maine’s opportunity to lead the nation in deepwater offshore wind energy development.

Speaker topics include the economics of offshore wind, critical path permitting issues, the results of a statewide public opinion survey, and other issues essential to the industry’s development.

The Maine Wind Energy Conference will be held Monday Jan. 24 (8 a.m.-9 p.m.) and Tuesday Jan. 25 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) at the Augusta Civic Center. Expanded to two days, this year’s conference features nearly 50 speakers in five tracks over two days. January 25 features the all-day offshore wind track with presentations by:

• Jake Ward, assistant vice president for research, economic development and government relations
• Prof. Gary Hunt, School of Economics
• Prof. Mario Teisl, School of Policy and International Affairs
• Prof. Caroline Noblet, School of Economics
• Prof. Peter Jumars, School of Marine Sciences
• Prof. Rebecca Holberton, School of Biology and Ecology
• Paul Williamson, Maine Wind Industry Initiative
• Bill Follett, Cianbro
• John Henshaw, Maine Port Authority
• Dr. Heather Deese, Island Institute
• Michael Murphy, HDR/DTA
• Peter Browne, HDR/DTA
• Andrew Qua, Kleinschmidt Associates
• Matthew Nixon, Maine State Planning Office

UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center Director Habib J. Dagher, Ph.D, P.E. will also present a Monday overview of the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s RFP for Long-term Contracts for Deepwater Offshore Wind Energy Pilot Projects, and the UMaine-led DeepCwind Consortium’s involvement in deepwater offshore wind energy technology development.

With 149 gigawatts of wind power in its gulf, offshore wind development is one of Maine’s strongest opportunities to boost its economy and create thousands of jobs. Through the leadership of the University of Maine, Advanced Structures and Composites Center, and DeepCwind Consortium, Maine is poised to become the world leader in deepwater offshore wind. The University of Maine has raised over $40 million to support this effort. Funded initiatives include the construction of the Offshore Wind Laboratory expansion to Advanced Structures and Composites Center, allowing wind structure testing up to 70 meters; testing of a 1/3 scale floating wind turbine at the UMaine Deepwater Offshore Wind Test Site off Monhegan Island in July 2012; and new academic programs for renewable energy and the environment at UMaine. These investments will fuel the innovation required to develop robust and economical floating wind turbine technology to allow Maine to capture this immense resource.