NEFSA Petition Urging Janet Mills to Halt Development of Offshore Wind in Gulf of Maine Receives Over 2,500 Signatures

By Libby Palanza

October 9, 2024

The New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) will be sending Gov. Janet Mills a petition with over 2,500 signatures urging her to halt the development of offshore wind farms in the Gulf of Maine, according to a source close to the matter.

NEFSA is a bipartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to helping save the region’s commercial fishing industry and preserving it for future generations.

Signatories on the petition include commercial fishermen, as well as residents of New England maritime communities.

In a copy of the petition’s letter obtained by the Maine Wire, NEFSA CEO Jerry Leeman urged Gov. Mills to follow in the footsteps of Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) by asking the Bureau of Ocean Management (BOEM) to halt its efforts to lease property off the coast.

When making this request, Gov. Kotek cited a need for the state to better understand the benefits and risks associated with these emerging technologies before moving forward with further leasing.

“As in Oregon, BOEM’s development agenda for the Gulf of Maine prioritizes speed at the expense of research, consensus, and safety,” wrote NEFSA.

“The dangers inherent to BOEM’s reckless approach are underscored by the blade detachment in July at Vineyard Wind,” the organization continued.

Vineyard Wind US — a joint venture of Central Maine Power (CMP) parent company Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners — came under heightened scrutiny after one of its wind turbines was significantly damaged over the summer, causing a blade the size of a football field to break apart into the water.

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According to NEFSA, members have continued to report encounters with debris from the detachment, noting the possibility that further detachment may occur in the future.

“Developers Orsted and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners have conceded as much in identifying new quality assurance measures for blades that have already been installed,” they said.

NEFSA’s letter goes on to raise concerns about the location of lease areas, explaining that “the six lease areas designated in the southern Gulf of Maine preclude safe access to the fishing grounds east of these sites.”

“Because fishermen cannot quickly and safely transit through wind farms, mariners will be forced to follow long detours around energy sites, an unwelcome prospect during an emergency,” Leeman wrote.

In a footnote, Leeman explains that NEFSA believes the designation of “safe-transit vectors” in or between wind farms is “inadequate” because “for reasons not yet understood,” wind farms interfere with marine radar.

“Fishermen are thus reluctant to approach wind farms with any regularity,” he wrote. “Nor can safe transit be assured during adverse weather conditions. No fishermen would approach a wind farm during a high swell.”

Leeman also notes concerns over potential radar malfunctions in the main text of his letter to Mills, suggesting that “ongoing interference — if not outright navigation failure — over a large swath of ocean strongly counsels against approaching the southern lease sites.”

“Given these well-grounded concerns, we ask that you follow Gov. Kotek’s example and ask BOEM to suspend offshore wind lease auctions for the Gulf of Maine,” he wrote.

“We are proud to do our part to maintain resilient fisheries,” NEFSA concluded. “Our livelihoods and the future of our historic communities depend on our prudent stewardship. We hope you will join us in protecting Maine’s historic fisheries.”

The article continues at https://www.themainewire.com/2024/10/nefsa-petition-urging-janet-mi...

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