Mitsubishi halts pioneering US floating wind plan over 'shifts in energy landscape'
Pine Tree Offshore Wind’s motion to suspend offtake negotiations with state and utilities reflects sector’s diminishing prospects under Trump
Maine’s utility regulator has approved Mitsubishi’s Pine Tree Offshore Wind (PTOW)’s request to suspend offtake negotiations for a pioneering floating wind research array as the US sector flounders.
The state is sponsoring the 144MW floating research array (MeRA) in collaboration with PTOW and the University of Maine (UMaine) in federal waters near the vast Gulf of Maine wind energy area (WEA).
“PTOW has requested that the negotiation of the Contract be paused due to recent shifts in the energy landscape that have in particular caused uncertainty in the offshore wind industry,” the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) said in a filing.
“Finding that good cause exists,” PUC approved a temporary suspension “until such time as PTOW files a request to resume.”
Neither the PUC nor the Maine governor’s office directly referenced President Donald Trump’s executive order that bans sector leasing and permitting while putting existing arrays under review with a goal of terminating or modifying them, but that is the principal source of sector uncertainty in the US.
Maine governor Janet Mills is keen on offshore wind to power heat pumps to wean residents off costly heating oil while driving employment and investment opportunities.
“The Governor’s Energy Office understands and respects Pine Tree Offshore Wind’s request to pause negotiations for the state's research array, in reflection of current uncertainty in the offshore wind industry,” said Dan Burgess, director of the governor’s energy office (GEO).
“Offshore wind, including the research array, is an important part of Maine’s long-term energy future, and GEO will continue to work on responsible offshore wind research and development to advance economic and environmental benefits for Maine.”
The plan calls for up to twelve turbines mounted on the UMaine’s patented VolturnUS concrete floating hulls in the 15,000-acre (6,070 ha) lease 32 miles (51 km) off the Maine coast.