SENATE LEADERS MEET WITH STATOIL AND ROLL OUT WELCOME MAT
Leaders re-affirm state’s interest in international energy innovator
AUGUSTA—The President of the Maine State Senate and the Senate Majority Leader reassured executives of the Norwegian energy innovator, StatOil, that Maine continues to be a welcome partner in their $200 million off-shore ocean energy investment.
Senate President Justin Alfond and Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall initiated a call to StatOil executives as follow up to last night’s legislative action where a measure undermining and jeopardizing an existing agreement between the state and StatOil was passed.
“Last night’s maneuver was politics at its worst. Today, we had a responsibility to reassure StatOil that what happened last night is not indicative of how Mainers do business,” said Senate President Alfond of Portland. “In our conversation today, we reassured StatOil that we stand ready to work with them to ensure their success in Maine.”
The last-minute amendment, offered by Senate Republicans, was to appease Governor LePage’s dissatisfaction with the omnibus energy bill which he vetoed earlier last week.
Alfond added, “The Governor has said ‘capital goes where it’s welcome and stays where it’s appreciated.’ Unfortunately and hypocritically, the Governor has signaled to a world innovator that is interested in investing hundreds of millions of dollars, that they are not wanted here in Maine.”
Earlier this year, the Public Utilities Commission entered in to an agreement with StatOil to move forward on a first-of-its kind floating wind turbines. The four turbines are projected to generate 12 megawatts of electricity. The project, called Hywind Maine, would be located in the deep water shore off of Boothbay Harbor.
“It has been many years since Maine has had the unique opportunity to be home to a significant new cutting edge industry—an industry that could transform our state’s energy future and create thousands of jobs over time,” said Senate Majority Leader Seth Goodall of Richmond. “The opportunity to play host to such innovation is rare. We must take advantage of that. Today’s call was an opportunity to unfurl the welcome mat that the Governor pulled away.”
The Hywind proposal is one of two projects that was awarded $4 million in grant monies from federal Department of Energy to showcase innovative technologies and improve performance for offshore wind power. Statoil is collaborating with the University of Maine to develop the technology for the off-shore wind turbines, a partnership that not only helps students but also helps to cement the school’s place as a center of innovation in the Northeast.
StatOil has promised to spend at least $100 million with qualified Maine-based supplies and contractors and has expressed its commitment to hiring local workers for Hywind and any of their other projects between Maine and Maryland.
Goodall added, “On our call, we thanked StatOil for their partnership to work with local businesses and industry. For Maine companies, such as Bath Iron Works, Cianbro or Reed & Reed, the StatOil project presents an incredible opportunity to diversify their businesses and develop the cutting edge expertise to capitalize on offshore energy projects around the world.”
Statoil, an innovator in energy solutions, launched the world’s first floating wind turbine three years ago. Statoil was named #1 “most socially responsible company in the world” by Forbes and the most transparent company of the world’s 105 largest publicly traded companies
Alfond added, “Everyone always talks about attracting businesses to Maine, a billion dollar company has come to us and we cannot let them get away.”
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