Floating Turbines Eyed to Ease Offshore Wind’s Permitting Woes

Offshore wind supporters hope nascent floating turbines backed by the Biden administration can ease legal conflicts while building a US supply chain to harness most of the renewable energy potential along the country’s coastlines.

The testing ground is in Maine, where a coalition of lawmakers, environmentalists, construction unions—and, lately, lobstermen—are pressing state lawmakers to pass legislation to procure 2.8 gigawatts of offshore wind, enough to power nearly 1 million homes, by 2035. A second bill allows for the construction of a port to build those wind farms. Supporters hope the bills can cross the finish line before the legislative session ...