Deepwater (wind) technology: Maine's wave of the future?

http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/6898096.html

STAVANGER, NORWAY -- In a way, Norway was born very near this beautiful North Sea community.

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Today, Gov. John Baldacci, Public Utilities Commissioner Jack Cashman, University of Maine professors Habib Dagher and Robert Lindyberg, two representatives from Sen. Susan Collins' office, the governor's security officer and I are going to hop in a 102-foot boat and ply the North Sea to see this floating turbine.

Why are we risking life and lunch? Maine's interested in building a similar test turbine, maybe a bigger one.

Maine's coast is much like Norway's -- the water gets deep, fast. So shallow-water turbines won't work. Deepwater technology is still in its infancy, but that may be a good thing. It could mean Maine's actually ahead of the eight-ball in exploring a technology, instead of showing up late.

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