To the Editor:

In the article on the issue of a proposed 12- megawatt offshore wind project (“Maine energy officials applaud offshore wind project,” Dec. 5, Page A1), Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland is quoted as commenting, “There are a very few places where we can compete and actually be a world leader from the start.”

Actually, the world leaders of wind energy utilization can be found in Europe. We are many years behind developments in this field.

To give just one example, in The Netherlands in 2011, 4 percent of the total electricity production was generated by wind energy. As early as 2011, a Dutch offshore wind farm in the North Sea already had a capacity in excess of 10 times the proposed Maine site.

Countries like Germany easily beat The Netherlands in wind energy production, on- and offshore.

In view of this, it is obvious that a European company like Statoil can readily compete in expertise, startup time and price with the University of Maine startup.

In fact, this is already acknowledged by Paul Williamson, director of the Maine Ocean and Wind Industry Initiative, who correctly observes in the Dec. 5 article that research and development in this field comes at a higher cost.

Governor LePage, of course, is not a supporter of alternative energy. In fact, in recent comments, he appeared to welcome climate change, since it might give new economic opportunities for Maine as the east-west passage along the North Pole opens up to commercial shipping.

The uncertainties in development and price of the University of Maine Aqua Ventus offshore wind project may be a perfect excuse for his administration to scuttle it.

Hans van Willigen
Woolwich