Stakeholders share advantages, readiness for federal offshore wind power in Gulf of Maine – WMUR Manchester

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EFFORT TO PROTECT THE STATE’S INTERESTS. A SUMMIT IN PORTSMOUTH. BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE FROM THE STATE’S NONPARTISAN OFFSHORE WIND COMMISSION AND THE ENERGY INDUSTRY. IN JUST TWO YEARS, THE FEDERAL WILL AUCTION OFF LEASES TO DEVELOP WIND ENERGY IN THE GULF OF MAINE. AND TODAY, TALK OF WHAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY MEAN TO ENERGY CONSUMERS. THIS IS A LOCAL HOMEGROWN ENERGY ENERGY SOURCE AND IT’S GOING TO TRANSFORM THINGS. IT IS REALLY GOING TO MEAN WE’LL HAVE CHEAP, RELIABLE POWER IN THE FUTURE. I JUST WISH WE COULD GET THERE FASTER. SHARING HOW NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS A PORT IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT A PROCESS THAT BRINGS BILLIONS IN CONSTRUCTION AND SUPPLY CHAIN OPPORTUNITIES. THIS COULD BE THE LARGEST INDUSTRY IN SEA COAST FOR DECADES TO COME. FISHERMEN WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACK OF FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND THE SIZE OF THE TURBINE UNITS. THESE ARE ENORMOUS. I DON’T THINK PEOPLE REALLY REALIZE THEY’RE THE SIZE OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING AND THEY FLOAT AND. EACH ONE TAKES UP FOUR SQUARE MILES. THAT’S WHERE THE MARINES ARE TO- KEEP IT FROM MOVING.INES ARE TO- AND SO THOSE HAVE BECOME NO FISH ZONES IMMEDIATELY, THE STATE AGENCIES, WE’RE DOING EVERYTHING CAN TO BALANCE PURSUING THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY WITH, PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF THE EXISTING ACTIVITY IS TO MAKE SURE THOSE NEGATIVE IMPACTS AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. IT’S A BALANCING ACT, BUT IT’S ONE I KNOW WE CAN WALK WALK. HE SAYS THAT AS A MEMBER OF THAT GULF OF MAINE TASK FORCE, NEW HAMPSHIRE IS ACTUALLY VERY INVOLVED IN CHOOSING THE ACTUAL SITES. NOW, THOSE FIRST LEASES WILL BE AUCTIONED OFF IN LATE 2024, BUT IT WILL BE ANOTHER PROBABLY 8 TO 10 YEARS BEFORE ENERGY IS ACTUALLY PRODUCED.