Trump administration could snuff out offshore wind
Author: David Vail is professor of economics emeritus at Bowdoin College.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to stop offshore wind development on day one of his administration. That will compound the challenges Maine faces in reaching its ambitious climate and renewable energy goals – and that humanity faces in limiting the looming disaster of global warming.
Maine’s clean energy strategy requires meeting 100% of our electricity needs from renewable sources by 2040, including three gigawatts of power from offshore wind – meeting one-fifth of our total energy demand.
The energy potential of the Gulf of Maine’s strong and steady winds has been well documented. However, resolving stakeholder conflicts has slowed development. And now two “October surprises” have cast serious doubt on Maine’s ability to reach our 2040 goals.
First, the federal Department of Transportation rejected Maine’s application for $456 million to construct a massive Sears Island port facility to build platforms and assemble generators. Without that infrastructure, it is hard to envision Maine as a major player in offshore wind, reaping its many economic benefits. And it is unclear where the state can turn for an alternative source of so much funding with a hostile Trump administration in power.
