Ironworkers 7 Members Help Build Experimental Floating Wind Turbine

The University of Maine is moving ahead with launching its experimental floating wind turbine in the Gulf of Maine next week, less than a month after the Trump administration cut $12.4 million in funding to the program. At 56 feet wide and 111 feet tall, the test turbine is a quarter-scale model developed over the past decade by UMaine's Advanced Structures and Composites Center using its patented VolturnUS technology. The University plans to tow the research turbine about 5.5 nautical miles from Mack Point in Searsport to just off of Dyce Head in Castine, Maine.

Despite losing federal funding, the University was able to complete the construction with existing funds and funding from the state industry partnerships, according to Maine Public. The federal funding was cut just as the 375-ton floating concrete hull was being hauled into Searsport to have its turbine, blades and other equipment installed. About $8.5 million from the federal grant had already been invested in the project before funding was suspended.

While the University kept the bidding process for the first phase of the project quiet and used a non-union contractor to build the concrete hull, Ironworkers Local 7 members assembled the project in Searsport.

"It was good to see the University  move forward with the project," said Ironworkers 7 Business Agent Grant Provost. "I'm glad that they've accepted that they made a few mistakes in the bidding process and were able to get some union people on the project. We're happy that some of the training we got through a grant from the Governor's Energy Office has helped train people in a process that they used to erect the turbine."

A university spokesperson told Maine Public that it has scaled back its planned research on the data funded by the federal award, including how to commercialize the technology. 
 

"Throughout the demonstration project’s development and deployment, it will enable hands-on experiential learning for UMaine students and industry, growing the size and skill of the state’s engineering and clean energy workforce," said UMaine spokesperson Samantha Warren in a statement.

Provost told Maine Public that despite the setbacks in the US, other countries are expanding offshore wind to provide renewable power and reduce greenhouse gas pollution

"Whatever we can do, small victories here and there to move in the same direction as our counterparts across the world is going to be beneficial for humanity and the environment here," he said.