enlarge Photos by John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

Maine officials and representatives of the Norwegian energy company StatoilHydro tour an empty Brunswick Naval Air Station hangar that could be used for building wind turbine components for shipping by rail to Bath Iron Works.

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Among the officials touring BNAS on Tuesday were, from left, Sjur Bratland of StatoilHydro, Gail Kelley, state director for Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe, and Mike Braun, program manager for the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

important component of renewable energy.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has proposed a bill to create an offshore wind program in the Department of Energy, funded at $50 million a year for 10 years.

Earlier this year, she secured a $5 million earmark for UMaine to establish an offshore wind center, and Maine's congressional delegation helped get an $8 million Department of Energy grant for the university to develop offshore wind technology.

Dagher said he believes the StatoilHydro officials have learned that Maine has the industrial base, the expertise and the commitment to wind power to make a partnership viable.

"I think they're going to come out with a very positive outlook of working in Maine," he said.

It was Bratland's first visit to Maine. He noted that Maine isn't alone in efforts to become more sustainable, and said he saw small things the state could do to move in that direction.

More community wind projects like the new one on Vinalhaven would be such a step, Bratland said. People could invest in smaller cars, or even use bikes to get along, he suggested.

"Small steps are what you need," he said.

Staff Writer Matt Wickenheiser can be contacted at 791-6316 or at: mwickenheiser@pressherald.com