University of Maine Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development Jake Ward speaks at a public meeting about the Maine Aqua Ventus I offshore-wind project in Bristol, Nov. 14, 2013. Ward will return to Bristol Tuesday, March 4 to meet with the Bristol Wind Power Advisory Committee. (Photo courtesy Sherrie Tucker, http://www. sherrietucker.com) |
By J.W. Oliver
A representative of the Maine Aqua Ventus I offshore-wind project will attend the next meeting of the Bristol Wind Power Advisory Committee, Tuesday, March 4.
The meeting will be the first between the committee and a Maine Aqua Ventus I representative since the appointment of the committee in December 2013.
University of Maine Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development Jake Ward will represent the project.
The University of Maine, through the spinoff company Maine Prime Technologies LLC, is a partner in Maine Aqua Ventus I GP LLC, the company behind the project.
The University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center developed the technology for the floating turbines the company plans to deploy in state waters about 12 miles southeast of Bristol.
The other partners in Maine Aqua Ventus I are Cianbro Corp., a Rockland-based contractor, and Emera Inc., a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based energy company.
The March 4 meeting is open to the public, and the Bristol Wind Power Advisory Committee encourages anyone with questions or concerns about the project to attend.
“We want the public to be aware of what we’re doing as a committee and what’s going on with the project,” Chairwoman Andrea Cox said. “This is the first of probably several meetings we’re going to have with these guys, and we’d like people to be there, see what’s going on and ask their questions in person.”
The committee plans to address some of its own questions and concerns and discuss the feedback it has received about the project. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at the Bristol town office.