Maine Governor John Baldacci this week said that the U.S. Department of Energy is committing US $20 million to further the development of deepwater offshore wind energy development in his state. The University of Maine's efforts already under way to develop components and test deepwater offshore wind turbines for energy production could receive support from these funds.

“I am pleased that the federal government has affirmed its support for deepwater offshore wind energy potential in general, and the vital work being conducted by the University of Maine specifically,” Governor Baldacci said. “Maine is well-positioned to compete for these federal resources because of the leadership we have built over the course of the past two years on deepwater offshore wind energy development.”

The commitment of funds from the Obama Administration comes less than two weeks after Energy Secretary Chu’s visit to the University of Maine. On June 14, at the invitation of Senator Susan Collins, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu visited the University of Maine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center. The federal agency has provided key funding to the Center and partners to aid Maine’s efforts to aggressively pursue wind power development and green jobs.

The Governor thanked Maine’s Congressional Delegation, which has helped the State obtain more than $25 million dollars in grants to help develop offshore energy.

“We are grateful for this significant level of support,” said the Governor. “The federal government is an important partner in our efforts to grow green jobs and advance the promise of offshore wind technology.”

Earlier this month Maine joined with nine other states and the U.S. Department of Interior to establish The Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium to work to streamline the review and siting process for offshore wind projects in federal waters. Maine has already identified three demonstration sites for offshore wind technology located in Maine coastal waters. The University of Maine will be using a site off Monhegan Island for its testing.

Maine has already identified three demonstration sites for offshore wind technology located in Maine coastal waters. The University of Maine will be using a site off Monhegan Island for its testing.