DeepCwind Consortium

Maine may get country's first floating turbines

Saturday, 10 December 2011

A Norwegian company is seeking approval to start a deepwater wind farm 12 miles off the Maine coast.

Article by Tux Turkel of Portland Press Herald. View original article here. 

SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE — 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.

Read more: Maine may get country's first floating turbines

DeepCwind Consortium’s Permitting Lawyer to Teach New Spring 2012 Course at UMaine

Monday, 05 December 2011

Article by DeepCwind Student Blogger, Terran Siladi.

Jeff Thaler, Esq. is a visiting professor at the University of Maine, serves as Assistant University Counsel for environmental, energy and sustainability projects, and is a nationally esteemed lawyer for his work with environmental and natural resource issues. This spring Mr. Thaler will be teaching a 4-week course, ECO 593, at the University of Maine and the Maine School of Law. I contacted him for an interview to gain insight into his motivation for teaching this class.

Terran Siladi: Could you please begin by explaining what environmental law and policy is, and what it means to work as a lawyer in this field?

Jeff Thaler: Environmental law and policy involves a multitude of issues impacting the air we breathe, the water we drink or swim in, the roads we drive on, the places we recreate, and where new development takes place. It also involves how our choices to heat our homes, fuel our vehicles, and power our electricity-consuming products impact land, air and water resources, and our public health. To be a lawyer or advocate in this field is to have the opportunity and tools to work for a healthier, cleaner and more sustainable world in which to live and prosper long-term.

Read more: DeepCwind Consortium’s Permitting Lawyer to Teach New Spring 2012 Course at UMaine

King Middle School visits UMaine

Written by Joshua Plourde Friday, 02 December 2011

Over 80 students from King Middle School of Portland visited the University of Maine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center on Wednesday, November 30th.

Students participated in a full day of hands-on innovation, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (iSTEM) activities, encouraging students to take a closer look future career opportunities based in iSTEM.

Read more: King Middle School visits UMaine