Maine's off-Monhegan prototype ocean wind project drops from two floaters to one.

Listen to the August 18, 2020 zoom presentation & QA concerning the latest iteration of Maine's floating offshore wind turbine project.

33 minute presentation and q&a (mp3) AND Lincoln County News story 8/25/20.

EXCERPTS FROM ARTICLE BY LCN's Evan Houk

"New England Aqua Ventus LLC,
a joint venture between Diamond Offshore Wind, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp., and German RWE Renewables, the second-largest company in offshore wind globally, has replaced the previous company behind the project, Maine Aqua Ventus 1 GP LLC, according to Jake Ward, vice president for innovation and economic development at the University of Maine." 

"Wissemann was joined in the Zoom call by two colleagues at Diamond Offshore Wind, David Deutsch and Duncan McEachern, as well as a consultant recently hired by the company, Genevieve McDonald."  

 "$100 million in funding for the project, dubbed New England Aqua Ventus I."

"New England Aqua Ventus LLC will lead construction, deployment, and operations for the single 10- to 12-megawatt wind turbine..."

"The university’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center will handle design, engineering, and research and development for the project, and will monitor it once it is operating."

 "Chris Wissemann, CEO of Diamond Offshore Wind, spoke for the joint venture and said he hopes to identify a landing site where the underwater cable from the wind turbine can tie into the power grid by the end of 2020:.

 "The route of the cable and where it will make land, both points of contention in mainland communities since the initiation of the project several years ago, are not yet clear." 

"Wissemann said a central concern is researching the impact that the turbine will have on the ecosystem of the area, particularly on fishermen." 

"We think it would be prudent to build only on research that demonstrates how people can operate around these things — how right whales can operate around these things, how fisherman can fish,” Wissemann said."

"New England Aqua Ventus LLC hopes to begin submitting permit applications early next year and start building the foundation in 2022, said Wissemann."

END OF EXCERPTS

Maine Aquaventus FOAA of DMR 2017 names and organisations listed

Maine Aqua Ventus FOAA of Maine Coastal Program DMR Maine Department of Marine Resources. List of officials and others involved.

Here is a list of the state and federal officials, academia , consultants and wind industry listed in the  DMR March-Nov 17, 2017 FOAA documents released to Friends of Penobscot Bay.  

MAINE AGENCIES

Shannon Ayotte  office of DMR commissioner  Shannon.Ayotte@maine.gov

Kate Tierney (MAG Representative)

Nixon, Matthew E

Burrowes, Todd  Coastal Program  Federal consistency, dredging, takings, public trust

Leyden, Kathleen ME Coastal Program

Desjardin, Tom;  

Noll, John Submerged Lands Director

Marvinney, Robert G.  UMaine 

John Noll (MDACF) 

Carl Wilson (MDMR)

Sue and Dawn Hallowell (MDEP)

Stacie Beyer (LUPC) 

Bob Stratton (MDIFW) 

Dennis Nault (MDMR)

Jeff Thaler  (UME atty)

Jake Ward (UME)   

FEDERAL

Wende Mahaney (USFWS) 

Sue Tuxbury NOAA (cable routing)

Jay Clement (USACE)

Mark McCollough (USFWS) 

Michelle DesAutels (USCG) 

 Andy Qua (Kleinschmidt) Andy.Qua@kleinschmidtgroup.com or Jeff Thaler Jeffrey.Thaler@maine.edu  (UMaine) 

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
Jeff Thaler jeffrey_thaler@maine.edu;
Jake Ward jsward@maine.edu;
Damian Brady damian.brady@maine.edu;
Tony Viselli anthony.viselli@maine.edu;

CONSULTANTS
Peter Browne <Peter.Browne@hdrinc.com>;
Andy Qua Andy.Qua@KleinschmidtGroup.com
Kayla Easler <Kayla.Easler@KleinschmidtGroup.com>

Ocean Renewable  Power  Company
N Johnson njohnson@orpc.com

DMR FOAA docs concerning the Maine AquaVentus project March - November 2017

Documents released by Maine DMR in response to a 11/26/27 FOAA request to Kathleen Leyden for "Public records in custody of you or your staff dating from April 1, 2017 to November 26, 2017 that pertain to the Maine Aquaventus floating ocean wind turbines project, slated to occupy the Maine Offshore Wind Test Center."  All documents are pdf files

MARCH 2018

* 3/06/2017 New Engl Aqua Ventus I - Proposed Project Description –Modification#1. 16pgs

*3/27/17 FOPB  FOAA request to DACF Commissioner re MAV  Earlier request-combined)

APRIL
* 4/3/17 staff react to FOPB FOAA 1pg

MAY
* 5/4/17 Agenda from May 4, 2017 meeting

* 5/4/17 Minutes from May 4, 2017 meeting 9pgs 

* 5/4/17 DOE NEPA Scoping Process 10pg pdf

* 5/11/17 Email from Bob Marvinney that LD 1262 (Protect Monhegan) got  Ought Not to Pass

* 5/11/17 email to Bob Marvinney reply to ONTP

JULY
* July 2017 Maine Coastal Program Performance Progress Report Jan1–June 30, 2017 3pgs

* July 2017 Undated. Draft Timeframe on interagency coordination   January 2017 - June 2017

* 7/26/17  Email Mendelson to Stephen N. Dickson  re shipwreck in Sub-sea Cable Survey. 3pg   

* 7/26/14 Emails Mendelson, Burrowes & Ward  re Searsport Dredging for MAV. 2pg

SEPTEMBER

University of  Lithuania review of impacts of offshore windfarming.

* 9/21/17  email Mark Bergeron to Todd Burrowes re timetable & regulatory path 1pg 

OCTOBER
* 10/3/17 Leyden to Mendelson  re cable routine from MAV

* 10/3/17 emails Deputy DMR Commissioner Mendelson to Todd Burrowes and Matt Nixon 2pg 10:15am

* 10/3/17  Emails re Geophysical Survey Info Doc. M. Mendelson to (1) Kathleen Leyden, & (2) Sarah Cotnoir,  Rene Cloutier Dierdre Gilbner, Carl Wilson, Kathleen Reardon & K Leyden 2pgs  10:24am
                 
* 10/3/17 Emails re Geophys Survey Info Mendelson  to Cotnoir, Cloutier  Wilson, Gilbert and  Reardon 2pgs   10:38am 

* 10/17/17 Email on media coverage of town oppo to MAV Meredith Mendelson Links.

* 10/17/17 DMR Pat Keliher to Mendelson Burrowes, Leyden Cotnoir, wilson gilbert, Nichols 

NOVEMBER 2018
* November 2017 Geophysical & Permitting Survey Overview of proposed seabed survey planned for Nov 3rd. 6pgs 

*  November 2017 Geophysical & Planning Survey re seabed survey  comments 6pgs

* 11/26/27 FOPB FOAA Request to Maine Coastal Program re MAV

  UNDATED
* Undated:  Project Description by Jeff Thaler atty for MAV_9pg pdf

* Undated  2018 Call for Maine Fishermen's Forum Seminar Proposals
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Maine AquaVentus Project: Federal and state officials and others involved

The plan to build and operate a pair of floating wind turbines off Monhegan Island requires  coordination between local state and federal officials, academia , the interested public, wind industry    Read below of 13 federal officials, 27 state officials, 4 UMaine academics, 3 consultants and 1 representative  of ORPC the underwater turbine power company.

FEDS
Dept of Energy 

Diana Heydar diana.heyder@ee.doe.gov;
Lori Gray lori.gray@ee.doe.gov;

USFWS 

Wende Mahaney wende_mahaney@fws.gov;
Mark McCollough mark_mccollough@fws.gov;

Army Corps
Jay.L.Clement  Jay.L.Clement@usace.army.mil;
LeeAnn Neal LeeAnn.Neal@usace.army.mil

US Coast Guard
Michele E. DesAutels  Michele.E.DesAutels@uscg.mil;
David Bourbeau David.T.Bourbeau@uscg.mil;

NOAA
Mike R. Johnson mike.r.johnson@noaa.gov;
Susan.Tuxbury Susan.Tuxbury@noaa.gov;
David.Bean David.Bean@noaa.gov;
Jordan.Carduner  jordan.carduner@noaa.gov;
Jeff Murphy@noaa.gov

STATE

Wilson, Carl <Carl.Wilson@maine.gov>;
Marc Denis Nault Marc.Nault@maine.gov;
Tierney, Katherine <Katherine.Tierney@maine.gov>;
Kemper, Keel <Keel.Kemper@maine.gov>;
Chamberlain, Kristen <Kristen.Chamberlain@maine.gov>;
Benoit, Nathaniel <Nathaniel.Benoit@maine.gov>;
Stratton, Robert D <Robert.D.Stratton@maine.gov>;
Beyer, Jim R <Jim.R.Beyer@maine.gov>;
Callahan, Beth <Beth.Callahan@maine.gov>;
DiBello, Carol <Carol.DiBello@maine.gov>;
Noll, John <John.Noll@maine.gov>;
Beyer, Stacie R <Stacie.R.Beyer@maine.gov>;
Hallowell, Dawn <Dawn.Hallowell@maine.gov>;
Keliher, Patrick  patrick.keliher@maine.gov;
Cotnoir, Sarah <Sarah.Cotnoir@maine.gov>;
Todd, Charlie <Charlie.Todd@maine.gov>;
Nixon, Matthew E <Matthew.E.Nixon@maine.gov>;
Sullivan, Kelsey M <Kelsey.M.Sullivan@maine.gov>;
Bergeron, Mark <Mark.Bergeron@maine.gov>;
Cloutier, Rene <Rene.Cloutier@maine.gov>;
Taylor, Joyce <Joyce.Taylor@maine.gov>;
Perry, John <John.Perry@maine.gov>;
Spiess, Arthur <Arthur.Spiess@maine.gov>;
Mohney, Kirk <Kirk.Mohney@maine.gov>;
Hopkin, Megan M <Megan.M.Hopkin@maine.gov>;
Marden, Kendall R. <Kendall.R.Marden@maine.gov>;
Bensinger, Peggy <Peggy.Bensinger@maine.gov>

UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
Jeff Thaler jeffrey_thaler@maine.edu;
Jake Ward jsward@maine.edu;
Damian Brady damian.brady@maine.edu;
Tony Viselli anthony.viselli@maine.edu;

CONSULTANTS
Peter Browne <Peter.Browne@hdrinc.com>;
Andy Qua Andy.Qua@KleinschmidtGroup.com
Kayla Easler <Kayla.Easler@KleinschmidtGroup.com>

POWER COMPANY
N Johnson njohnson@orpc.com