Offshore wind holds incredible potential to help meet the clean energy goals needed for a healthy climate. The Gulf of Maine, in particular, with its strong, sustained winds, is one of the best locations in the world to harness renewable wind energy. However, offshore wind development must be sited with care to avoid potential conflicts […]
Wind
Previewing our Priority State Legislation for 2025
A new legislative session has begun in Augusta and our advocates are already in the State House working to advance protections for Maine wildlife and habitat. Our staff of advocates, scientists, and environmental educators has combed through hundreds of new bills submitted at the start of the 132nd Maine Legislature and selected our top priorities […]
UPDATED Draft Gulf of Maine Wind Energy Area Excludes Right Whale and Lobstering Areas
UPDATE Nov. 22, 2023:�Maine Audubon joined Mass Audubon and the American Bird Conservancy in submitting comments on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s draft Wind Energy Area (WEA) for the Gulf of Maine. The authors asked for a number of changes to the draft WEA in order to protect birds and other wildlife, including the […]
Maine Audubon in Augusta: Summing Up an Amazing Session
The First Session of the 131st Maine Legislature was one of the busiest and most successful we’ve ever had. Super-powered by the addition of our new Policy Advocate, Ches Gundrum, Maine Audubon was able to work on�and help pass�more wildlife-benefitting legislation than any session in recent memory! It was a whirlwind, with many successes to […]
Maine Audubon in Augusta: Important Final Updates
The Maine Legislature is nearing the end of an active and productive session. Though today is the last day on its formal calendar, there is still a lot of work to do and the Maine Audubon team expects that the Legislature will meet at least through the end of the week. Until then, we want […]
A Voice for Wildlife in the Development of Offshore Wind
Maine Audubon continues our work to support the development of clean, renewable energy in the Gulf of Maine while playing a critical role to ensure the avoidance or minimization of impacts to wildlife and habitat. In recent months we’ve released a report on potential impacts to wildlife from offshore wind in the Gulf and strategies […]
Maine Audubon in Augusta: Mid-Session Updates from the Legislature
We have lots of updates from a busy session in the Maine Legislature! Let’s dive right in after some notices on a few upcoming events: This Thursday, May 18, is�Conservation Lobby Day�in Augusta. Members and supporters from conservation organizations across the state will join in Augusta to advance clean energy and climate action, further environmental […]
Update: Offshore Wind in the Gulf of Maine – May 2023
As momentum toward offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine ramps up, Maine Audubon strives to understand its impacts on wildlife and habitat, and is actively working to support development that avoids or minimizes those impacts and that propels Maine towards its clean, renewable energy goals. But there’s a lot happening, with distinct but […]
Maine Audubon Joins Coalition of Offshore Wind Supporters to Announce Critical Legislation
The state of Maine is closer than ever to generating clean, renewable energy from winds in the Gulf of Maine. A single test turbine is scheduled for testing a few miles off of Monhegan Island. An array of 10-12 turbines in federal waters about 45 miles off of Portland has received the green light from […]