The US state of Maine has moved to scrap a long-planned floating offshore wind solicitation, with regulators citing “recent changes in the energy landscape that have caused significant uncertainty in the offshore wind industry”.
The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) was required under Maine law to launch the solicitation, the state’s first, by 1 July unless it agrees to a delay with the state’s Public Utility Commission (PUC).
In a June letter the GEO requested a delay in the solicitation from the PUC because of the changes in the US energy market.
GEO Director Dan Burgess wrote: “With this extension, GEO will continue to work with the Commission, other state agencies, Tribes, and stakeholders to draft a robust offshore wind energy solicitation that advances the industry and protects ratepayers.
“The state will continue investment in responsible offshore wind research and development, such as through the stakeholder-based Maine Offshore Wind Research Consortium.”
The PUC agreed to the delay on 25 June.
No new date has been set for the solicitation.