UMaine floating offshore wind research featured in upcoming episode of PBS NOVA
The University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center’s Habib Dagher will be featured on PBS NOVA’s latest episode, “Chasing Carbon Zero: Here’s how the U.S. could reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” highlighting UMaine’s global leadership in floating offshore wind. The episode airs at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26.
The PBS NOVA episode will delve into the role of offshore wind in meeting President Joe Biden’s Earth Shots initiative and the goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050, which will require slashing emissions in half by 2030. With Maine’s extensive coastline and wind resources, the state is poised to play a significant role in the country’s transition toward a carbon-neutral future.
Over the past 15 years, UMaine has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technology to harness the power of floating offshore wind. Dagher, the executive director of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center, will showcase the advancements made by UMaine in the field, positioning the state as the next frontier of floating offshore wind.
The episode will feature the perspectives of several experts, including Dagher, who are optimistic that the U.S. has the technical know-how to achieve carbon zero and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. It will also highlight the potential of Maine’s floating offshore wind technology in addressing the energy needs of many communities in Maine and in becoming a significant export industry.