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☆ Offshore wind projects have been dogged by inflation and culture wars. Now they’re making a comeback
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —After a disastrous year marked by high costs, accusations of environmental harm and project cancellations in 2023, there’s a sense the US offshore wind industry is on a rebound. But offshore wind is increasingly Trump-proof, according to a top White House climate official, wind CEOs and an industry analyst. “This year will be a significant year for offshore wind development,” BOEM director Elizabeth Klein told CNN in a statement. The US supply chain for offshore wind is still being built; therefore, projects are turning to European manufacturers to get blades, gearboxes, and other components. Now, he said, Northeast governors “just want to make sure their states have energy.”New York has been aggressively pursuing offshore wind projects, rebidding previously canceled projects and accepting those projects at higher prices.

Persons: ”, Sam Huntington, “, aren’t, Donald Trump –, Trump, Ali Zaidi, that’s, ” Zaidi, we’ve, Zaidi, “ We’re, ” Huntington, Elizabeth Klein, Matthew J, Lee, There’s, Clint Plummer, ” Plummer, Pedro Azagra Blázquez, ” Blázquez, rebidding, Plummer, they’re Organizations: CNN, P, White House, White, Biden, US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Vineyard, New, Boston Globe, Power Locations: Wisconsin, Trump, Europe, Gulf of Maine, Oregon, New Bedford, Massachusetts, Huntington, New York, Danish, Asia, Friendly, New England, York

Although the heaviest snow has ended, several more inches of snow are expected across large swaths of Maine and New Hampshire, according to the National Weather Service. “Low pressure in the Gulf of Maine will continue to bring accumulating snow through this evening along with gusty northeast winds,” the National Weather Service said. “Winds will also remain gusty and may result in additional downed branches and limbs due to the weight of freshly fallen snow,” the weather service added. Winter storm warnings and advisories have been extended for parts of New England through Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service. “Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” the weather service notes.

Persons: nor’easter, Janet Mills, “, Thursday’s, ”, Ed Warren, “ Frost Organizations: CNN, ”, National Weather Service, Westbrook School Department, Gorham School, WMUR, East, East Kingston Fire Department, Southern and, Storm Prediction, Colorado ., Storm Prediction Center Locations: Maine, New Hampshire, ” Maine, New England, Moretown , Vermont, Shapleigh , Maine, Gulf, Gulf of Maine, York County, State, Gorham, East Kingston , New Hampshire, East Kingston, East Coast, Vermont, New York, Central Plains , Ohio, Central Plains, Ohio, Missouri, Jefferson City , Columbia, Hannibal, Kansas, Arkansas, Springfield, Branson, Indiana, Kentucky, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Southern, Central, Southern and Central High Plains, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Colorado . Cities, Denver, Amarillo, Roswell

Not fun.”Many scientists who study the intersection of climate change, flooding, winter storms and sea level rise agree the kind of damage Levy experienced was more of a sign of things to come than an anomaly. Climate change is forecast to bring more hurricanes to the Northeast as waters warm, some scientists say. In the Northeast, the problem of climate change is especially acute because of forecasted sea level rise here, said Hannah Baranes, a coastal scientist with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute's Climate Center in Portland, Maine. “This is a real moment to consider how much flooding is in several feet of sea level rise,” Baranes said. Vermont, which also suffered heavy damage in Hurricane Irene in 2011, is working to establish statewide floodplain standards, Moore told the Maine Climate Council.

Persons: Haim Levy, ” Levy, “ It's, Levy, Hannah Baranes, it's, Baranes, ”, ” Baranes, Joe Biden, Patrick Keliher, Janet Mills, “, we've, ” Mills, We're, Julie Moore, Hurricane Irene, Moore, hasn't, Irene, Laura Dwyer, Dwyer, Conrad Ferla, Ferla, Charles Krupa, Rodrique Ngowi, ___, Patrick Whittle, @pxwhittle Organizations: Haim, United Nations, European Union, of, state's Department of Marine Resources, Democratic, Maine Climate Council, Vermont Agency of Natural, Coastal Resources Management, Associated Press Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, Hampton , New Hampshire, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Massachusetts, of Maine, Portland , Maine, New England, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources . Vermont, Hurricane, Vermont, ”, North Wildwood, Rhode Island, Narragansett , Rhode Island, South Kingstown

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The population of young lobsters has declined nearly 40% in some of the most critical fishing waters off New England, officials said Wednesday, triggering new restrictions for the fishermen who harvest the valuable crustaceans. Officials with the regulatory Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission said surveys have detected a 39% decline in young lobsters in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank areas for 2020-22 compared to 2016-18. “We're seeing decline in those recruits.”The commission announced the drop in young lobsters just months after adopting new rules designed to better protect the creatures from overfishing. The new rules state that fishermen must adhere to stricter size limitations on the lobsters they can catch when the young lobsters show a decline of 35% or more. How much the new rules will impact the availability or price of lobsters to U.S. consumers is difficult to say.

Persons: Caitlin Starks, “, we've, ” Starks, ”, Patrick Keliher, Keliher, ” Keliher Organizations: States Marine Fisheries Commission, Georges Bank, Maine Department of Marine Resources Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, New England, Gulf of Maine, England, U.S, Canada

The scientists found large whales such as humpbacks and North Atlantic right whales were among the most vulnerable to climate change, and that other toothed whales and dolphins were also at high risk. The scientists looked at the animals' degree of exposure to climate change and sensitivity and capacity to adapt to it. “The U.S. is one of the most data-rich countries when it comes to marine mammals, and those data should be driving what are arguably some of the world’s strongest laws to protect marine mammals," she said. But the way climate change affects the giant animals is global in nature, so the broader approach is helpful, she said. Climate change also could affect the distribution and behavior of marine mammals, the study states.

Persons: Matthew Lettrich, ” Lettrich, Regina Asmutis, Silvia, “, Laura Ganley, Ganley, ”, Gib Brogan, ” Brogan, Patrick Whittle Organizations: —, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Conservation, Anderson Cabot Center, Ocean, New, Aquarium, AP Locations: PORTLAND, Maine, U.S, North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Massachusetts, Boston, New England, United States, of Maine, Georgia, Florida, Canada, Oceana

Like most lobstermen, the Maine House Republican leader scrambled to complete his work ahead of the remnants of Hurricane Lee. Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham was rushing home from sea when a giant wave rose up, seemingly from nowhere, and towered over his boat. Suffering a black eye, facial fracture and stitched lip, Faulkingham counted Polk and himself lucky to be alive Monday. In the meantime, the Coast Guard, responding to the beacon, alerted Faulkingham's wife at 12:20 p.m. and the search was on. He hauled them onto his lobster boat and rush to shore, where an ambulance took them to the hospital.

Persons: Hurricane Lee, Rep, Billy Bob Faulkingham, Alex Polk, ” Faulkingham, Faulkingham, Polk, It’s, ”, Faulkingham's, Mikie Faulkingham, Lee, Diolanda Caballero, “, — it’s, ” Caballero Organizations: Maine House Republican, Atmospheric Administration, . Coast Guard, lobstermen, Coast Guard, Associated Press, National Weather Service Locations: Hurricane, Winter, Desert Island, Acadia, Gulf of Maine

The U.S. National Hurricane Center discontinued a tropical storm warning for the coast of Maine, while Environment Canada ended its tropical storm warning in New Brunswick. Political Cartoons View All 1163 ImagesA tropical storm warning remained in effect for parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the Magdalen Islands. Lee flooded coastal roads in Nova Scotia and took ferries out of service while fanning anxiety in a region still reeling from wildfires and severe flooding this summer. In eastern Maine, winds died down enough by late afternoon Saturday for utility workers to begin using bucket trucks to make repairs. Central Maine Power and Versant Power had hundreds of workers, including out-of-state crews, assisting the effort.

Persons: Lee, Prince Edward Island, Pam Lovelace, “, Brian Lunt, Lunt, Power, ”, Sarah Thunberg, Billy Bob Faulkingham, Danny Mitchell, ” Mitchell, Betsy Follansbee, Fred, jogged, “ We’re, ” Follansbee, Maine’s, Ren Renton, Sandy, Hurricane Fiona, Jill Maepea, ___ Sharp, Robert Bumsted, Patrick Whittle, Michael Casey, Mark Thiessen, Rob Gillies, Kathy McCormack Organizations: BAR, Maritime, U.S, National Hurricane Center, Environment Canada, Canadian, Magdalen, Authorities, Halifax Stanfield International, New Brunswick, Police, Central Maine Power, National Weather Service, Republican, Maine Legislature, Winter Harbor Police, Associated Press Locations: Maine, New England, Maritime Canada, New Brunswick, Halifax , Nova Scotia, Eastport , Maine, Maine , New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, U.S, Bar Harbor , Maine, Acadia, Halifax, New, Searsport , Maine, Massachusetts, Portland , Maine, Bar Harbor, Higgins, Scarborough , Maine, Maine’s Bailey, of Maine, New York, New Jersey, Hurricane, Canada, Canadian, England, Cape Elizabeth , Maine, Boston, Rio, Las Vegas, Anchorage , Alaska, Toronto, Concord , New Hampshire

BOSTON (AP) — When it comes to hurricanes, New England can't compete with Florida or the Caribbean. Lee remained a Category 1 hurricane late Friday night with sustained winds of 80 mph (128 kph). One recent study found climate change could result in hurricanes expanding their reach more often into mid-latitude regions, which include New York, Boston and even Beijing. While hurricanes and tropical storms are uncommon in New England, the region has been seen its share of violent weather events. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 brought gusts as high as 186 mph (300 kph) and sustained winds of 121 mph (195 kph) at Massachusetts’ Blue Hill Observatory.

Persons: Lee, ”, Joshua Studholme, they’re, Andra Garner, Garner, Kerry Emanuel, Emanuel, “, ” Garner, Hurricanes Carol, Edna, Hurricane Bob, Superstorm Sandy, Storm Irene, Michael Casey Organizations: BOSTON, Yale University, U.S ., Rowan University, New, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hurricanes, Hurricane, AP Locations: New England, Florida, of Maine, England, Canadian, of Nova Scotia, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, Boston, Beijing, Boston , New York, Norfolk , Virginia, New Englanders, U.S, U.S . East Coast, New Jersey, New York City, Gulf, Atlantic City , New Jersey, Vermont

But scientists said Friday that the arrival of storms like Hurricane Lee this weekend could become more common in the region as the planet warms, including in places such as the Gulf of Maine. One recent study found climate change could result in hurricanes expanding their reach more often into mid-latitude regions, which includes New York, Boston and even Beijing. Lee remained a hurricane with 80 mph (128 kph) winds at 2 p.m. EDT Friday as it headed toward New England and eastern Canada with 20-foot (6-meter) ocean swells, strong winds and rain. While hurricanes and tropical storms are uncommon in New England, the region has been seen its share of violent weather events. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 brought gusts as high as 186 mph (300 kph) and sustained winds of 121 mph (195 kph) at Massachusetts’ Blue Hill Observatory.

Persons: Lee, Joshua Studholme, they’re, ”, Andra Garner, Kerry Emanuel, Emanuel, “, ” Garner, Hurricanes Carol, Edna, Bob, Superstorm Sandy, Storm Irene, Garner, Michael Casey Organizations: BOSTON, Yale University, U.S ., Rowan University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hurricanes, AP Locations: New England, Florida, of Maine, New York, Boston, Beijing, Boston , New York, Norfolk, Virginia, New Englanders, U.S, U.S . East Coast, New York City, Maine, Gulf, Canada, England, Massachusetts, —, Atlantic City , New Jersey, Vermont

North of there, the Atlantic waters are much colder. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 brought gusts as high as 186 mph (300 kph) and sustained winds of 121 mph (195 kph) at Massachusetts' Blue Hill Observatory. In 2011, a weakening Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm but produced historic flooding in Vermont. The last time Maine was under a hurricane watch was in 2008 for Hurricane Kyle, a tropical storm when it skirted past the state. The last hurricane to make landfall in Maine was Hurricane Gerda, which hit Eastport in 1969.

Persons: Hurricane Lee, Lee, Irene, Hurricane Kyle, Hurricane Gerda, Hurricane Bob, Superstorm Sandy Organizations: Hurricanes, Down, Down East Maine —, Hurricane, Southern U.S, Galveston Hurricane, Gulf of Locations: England, New England, Hurricane, Cape Cod ., Massachusetts, Vermont, EAST MAINE, Down East Maine, Atlantic Canada, Maine, Eastport, Caribbean, Mexico, Southern, Galveston, New Orleans, Atlantic City , New Jersey, Gulf, Gulf of Maine

☆ Maine lobstermen are getting into the seaweed business as climate change threatens the catch
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Lobsters have long been a staple of the Maine economy, worth roughly $388 million last year alone, but climate change is putting the catch at risk. Now lobstermen and women, along with local entrepreneurs, are turning to a new and potentially even more lucrative staple: Seaweed. Seaweed is also a natural carbon sink, helping the ocean to absorb excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Aquaculture in general, and seaweed in particular, is an essential economic driver for the state of Maine. Atlantic Sea Farms works with 27 lobstermen up and down the coast.

Persons: Bri Warner, Warner, Gamble Organizations: Toyota, Procter, Gamble, Gillette, CNBC, Kroger Locations: Maine, The, Portland , Maine

Many opponents of renewable energy, she added, “are worried about the impacts to their very way of life.”Roadside opposition to renewable energy projects near Baldwin City, Kan. “We see offshore wind as a critical technology,” said Dan Burgess, the director of the Maine Governor’s Energy Office. Across the country, clean energy projects of all types are tied up in lengthy permitting processes. By then, India had not completed any offshore wind projects. Since 2000, the United States has barely built any major transmission lines that connect different regions of the country.

Persons: Scott Dickerson, ”, Biden, Alison Bates, “, Columbia University’s, Dan Burgess, Habib Dagher, Janet Mills, Gregory Wetstone, Mack, James Gillway, SunZia, ” Hunter Armistead, Broussard, There’s, Vaughan Woodruff, Tucker Carlson, Teslas, ” Ali Zaidi, Dagher, Rolf Olsen, who’s Organizations: University of Maine, Sears, Officials, Federal, International Energy Agency, Colby College, White, Columbia, Climate, The University of, Maine Governor’s Energy, Environmental, University of Maine’s, Composites Center, Gov, American Clean Power Association, American Council, Renewable Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Army Corps of Engineers, . Clean, Union United, China India European Union United States, China European Union United, China India United States European, China United States European Union, China United States European Union India, Energy, The New York Times, United, Pattern Energy, New York State Energy Research, Development Authority, Toyota Prius Locations: Penobscot Bay, Maine, , Maine, United States, Europe, China, Australia, India, Los Angeles, Ohio, Jersey Shore, Waterville , Maine, Baldwin City, Kan, Massachusetts, Ukraine, Gulf, Searsport , Maine, Searsport, Bangor, Mack, West, Union United States, U.S, China United States European Union India, Great, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Riesel , Texas, Energy, San Bernardino County, In Kansas, Atlantic City, N.J, New York, Manhattan, Sears

☆ To my son, born in the climate crisis: I see signs of hope
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Bill Weir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The first looked at the twin crises of Covid and climate change as River was born; the second introduced him to Earth Day and what he could do. Watch Weir investigate “How to Unscrew a Planet,” on CNN’s “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper,” Sunday at 8 p.m. Energy from clean sources, like this windmill in Texas, is heating and cooling more homes in America than ever before. “We call it climate intervention,” Kelly Wanser told me as we sat under bluebird skies and the Washington Monument. So far, it feels like your future will be marked in new stories to frame our wants and needs, and new tools to build Life As We Know It Could Be.

☆ Sale jumpstarts floating, offshore wind power in U.S. waters
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

The cost of developing offshore wind has dropped 60% since 2010 according to a July report by the International Renewable Energy Agency. Offshore wind is well established in the U.K. and some other countries but is just beginning to ramp up off America’s coasts, and this is the nation’s first foray into floating wind turbines. Europe has some floating offshore wind — a project in the North Sea has been operating since 2017 — but the potential for the technology is huge in areas of strong wind off America’s coasts, said Josh Kaplowitz, vice president of offshore wind at the American Clean Power Association. President Joe Biden set a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030 using traditional technology that secures wind turbines to the ocean floor, enough to power 10 million homes. Then the administration announced plans in September to develop floating platforms that could vastly expand offshore wind in the United States.

☆ Maine Governor Janet Mills criticized Whole Foods after the grocery chain decided to stop selling the state's lobsters at its stores
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Whole Foods will no longer sell Maine lobster in its stores. The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, which represents the Gulf of Maine fishery, also called the decision "disappointing" in a statement to Maine Public. Right whales can reach up to 52 feet in length and live up to 70 years. The main causes of unusual death for right whales include entanglements with fishing gear and collisions with ships. Representatives for Whole Foods, the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, and the Marine Stewardship Council did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

☆ The 'world's largest floating wind farm' produces its first power
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Anmar Frangoul | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A facility described as the world's largest floating wind farm produced its first power over the weekend, with more turbines set to come online before the year is out. The use of a floating wind farm to help power the production of fossil fuels is likely to spark some controversy, however. Earlier this year, meanwhile, the White House said it was targeting 15 gigawatts of floating offshore wind capacity by the year 2035. As well as the 15 GW ambition, a "Floating Offshore Wind Shot" aims to reduce the costs of floating technologies by over 70% by the year 2035. "Bringing floating offshore wind technology to scale will unlock new opportunities for offshore wind power off the coasts of California and Oregon, in the Gulf of Maine, and beyond," the statement added.

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