A federal agency that manages ocean energy in the Outer Continental Shelf and the state of Maine have formed an offshore renewable energy task force.
The task force met for the first time on Tuesday, discussing the commercial leasing process for offshore renewable energy and presenting a draft task force charter.
Maine Gov. John Baldacci called it "an important next step for Maine and the nation in meeting the challenges of energy independence and security, climate change and economic development."
One of key missions of the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement is to manage the ocean energy and mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf. Similar task forces have been formally established with Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, Delaware and Maryland.
