AUGUSTA — Gov. John Baldacci gave thanks to Maine voters for approving a bond issue that invests in offshore wind energy development.

In his weekly radio address today, Baldacci said the money in the bond issue will solidify the role of the University of Maine as a leader in the development of offshore wind energy. The school’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center is working to design and test floating deep-water wind turbine platforms.

The governor said Maine’s offshore wind resources hold great potential to reduce the state’s dependency on foreign oil. He said the wind power industry also could create thousands of new jobs in Maine.