Trump Administration Suspends Funding for University of Maine’s Offshore Wind Project

In a recent development, the Trump administration has halted funding for a research project focused on developing prototypes for floating offshore wind turbines. This decision comes shortly after the University of Maine initiated the construction of a test system base, with plans for operations to commence this summer.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) issued a letter, made public by Maine State Representative Reagan Paul, accusing the university of non-compliance with certain National Policy Assurances outlined in their grants. As a result, ARPA-E has suspended all activities related to the project for a period of up to 90 days, pending further investigation. The university has the opportunity to contest this suspension by providing relevant information and documentation.

Despite the lack of specific allegations in the letter, the state of Maine and the Trump administration have been engaged in a public dispute since earlier this year. Governor Janet Mills’ rejection of certain federal policies, including those concerning transgender rights, has led to tensions between the state and the administration. This latest suspension adds to a series of federal aid interruptions experienced by the university since February.

The University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center has been at the forefront of floating offshore wind turbine research for over a decade. Securing grants totaling $12.5 million in 2024, the center aimed to construct and test a prototype in the Gulf of Maine.

On March 30, researchers successfully floated a 375-ton concrete base as the initial phase of the prototype project. Following this milestone, the base was transported to Searsport, Maine for further assembly, including the installation of the tower, turbines, and blades. The prototype, a scaled-down version standing at 56 feet square and 32 feet high, was scheduled for placement in Penobscot Bay near Castine, Maine by the end of May.

The project’s ultimate goal is to deploy up to 12 floating turbines, potentially generating 144 MW of electricity based on current designs. Maine’s proposal for a floating offshore wind research site was approved by the Bureau of Offshore Energy Management in 2023, with a research lease awarded in 2024.