Governor Highlights Maine's Energy Leadership at World Affairs Council of Maine Breakfast

Press Release

Governor John E. Baldacci spoke this morning to World Affairs Council members and others attending the Governor's International Breakfast, the theme of which was diversifying Maine's energy resources. The Governor addressed his vision for energy independence.

"I believe it is absolutely imperative that we diversify Maine's energy resources. Our economic future demands it; our environmental future demands it; and our national security demands it," said the Governor. "Energy efficiency and clean energy development will produce investments and jobs right here in Maine."

The Governor outlined the steps his Administration has taken in the past seven years to comprehensively address energy issues, beginning with establishing the Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security when the price of oil was just $20 a barrel.

"I knew then that for Maine businesses to be successful and to lay a solid foundation for economic growth for Maine people, we had to address the cost and type of energy sources," said the Governor.

Governor Baldacci made State Government a laboratory for decreasing fossil fuels and establishing energy efficiency standards. The Governor established partnerships to help weatherize residences and has been promoting private industry growth in the area of clean energy development.

"Renewable energy, especially Maine renewable energy, is a cornerstone of my energy agenda, and we have worked to aggressively move forward to make Maine a leader in harnessing clean, renewable sources of energy -- including wind," said the Governor.

Maine has established a bold vision of reducing the State's consumption of liquid fossil fuels by at least 30 percent by 2030. Maine has set ambitious but achievable targets for development of wind power.

"To meet these goals, we have been aggressive in our pursuit to become energy self-sufficient and to tap our natural resources," said Governor Baldacci. "We have worked with private industry, our Congressional Delegation, the U.S. Department of Energy, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers. We have led trade missions and reached across Maine communities to build support and the kind of partnerships necessary to realize our goals."

Already, Maine is home to 95 percent of the operating on-shore wind capacity in New England.

The Governor and the Maine Congressional Delegation have been working with the U.S. Department of Energy on a proposal for a National Deepwater Offshore Wind Research Center to be located off Maine's coast.

On Oct. 15, the University of Maine and DeepCwind Consortium partners were awarded $8 million of Federal Recovery Act funds to expand efforts to develop offshore wind capacity.

The Governor led a trade mission to Spain and Germany earlier this autumn that focused on wind energy development, helping Maine businesses connect with potential international investors and partners.

The State has invited the Norwegian company, Statoil, to partner with the State of Maine in developing a commercial deepwater wind turbine off Maine's coast by 2012.

"We have taken bold steps to build our wind power portfolio," said the Governor. "We continue to look for partners across the globe to join with us and do business in Maine, leading to a brighter economic future and jobs for Maine people.

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