Maine Democrat Jared Golden reintroduced a bill to ban offshore wind in a lobster fishing zone in his state, bucking other Democrats who are seeing red on President Donald Trump’s blanket ban on new wind power leases.
The bill, dubbed the “Northern Fisheries Heritage Protection Act of 2025” would block offshore wind development in Lobster Management Area 1, a fishing area that runs from the Canadian border to the north shore of Cape Cod. Golden introduced the bill with Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), who has become one of the most vocal offshore wind opponents in Congress.
Golden said the development of offshore wind in the fishing area threatens the viability of lobster fishing — a bedrock industry for his state.
“Maine’s fishermen deserve to know that waters critical to our historic, high-value industry are protected — not by promises, but by federal law,” Golden said. “Protecting the bountiful natural resources of LMA 1 from development will preserve our way of life, local economies and communities.”
