Labor standards for offshore wind development
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What is the bill
This bill, originally proposed by Gov. Janet Mills to modify visual impact standards to allow the creation of a port for offshore wind power development, was modified by requiring any development to abide by certain labor standards, including for wages and registered apprenticeships.
Why it matters
The legislation was designed to ensure that any offshore wind development would create high-quality jobs for Maine workers as well as make the projects more likely to receive federal funding, as the U.S. departments of Transportation, Commerce and the Interior are prioritizing funding for projects with strong labor standards. Offshore wind power development is a key plank in Maine’s response plan to address and prepare for climate change.
What happened
LD 1847 passed by wide margins in both the House and Senate, but Gov. Mills chose to veto her own bill rather than allow the strong labor standards to go into law. The legislature was unable to override her veto but lawmakers and union and environmental advocates eventually reached an agreement with the governor and passed a compromise bill, LD 1895, which contained some wage and benefit standards for offshore wind workers. The governor signed that bill into law.