GORHAM, Maine — A Gorham research firm is receiving a $4.5 million grant to study risks to sea birds, sea turtles and marine mammals from offshore wind-power development.
Sen. Olympia Snowe announced the Department of Energy grant to BioDiversity Research Institute on Wednesday.
The Maine Republican said Maine is uniquely positioned to harness deep-water offshore energy. She said technical and environmental challenges for the wind energy industry as well as a long permitting process are major impediments to installing offshore wind energy.
Snowe said the research project will yield data critical to advance development of offshore wind.