The power of place: The role of place attachment in the offshore wind debate in the Gulf of Maine

The momentum to develop offshore wind has built across the globe in recent years. In the United States, previous federal climate goals prioritized decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and offshore wind was identified as a key technology in the clean energy transition. The state of Maine has proposed two projects to test floating turbine technology and research the ecological, economic, and social impacts of offshore wind development. Commercial lobstermen are one stakeholder group that has been outspoken about these projects. Here, we examine the role of place attachment—or the elements of a place that evolve to have meaning among individuals and communities—in the perspectives of commercial lobstermen regarding the development of offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine. We analyzed 55 written public testimonies and conducted 16 semi-structured phone interviews with randomly selected lobstermen. Written public testimony showed higher rates of opposition than randomized interviews. A qualitative analysis of these data indicated the presence of place attachment among commercial lobstermen and highlighted four prominent themes that encapsulated both positive and negative attitudes towards offshore wind: 1) community reliance on lobstering; 2) communal ties; 3) stewardship of the ocean; and 4) costs for local communities. These findings suggest that contextualizing offshore wind management among other place-based challenges and grounding engagement efforts at the local scale could better address the specific priorities and concerns of communities. Additionally, these findings raise considerations about compensation strategies for the negative impacts of offshore wind development to account for both economic and social impacts. • Place attachment informs how Maine lobstermen view offshore wind development. • Written public testimony showed higher rates of opposition than randomized interviews. • The social impacts of offshore wind should be addressed in compensation strategies.