A generous donation from the family of the late Matthew R. Simmons, the founder and chairman of the Ocean Energy Institute, along with all the gifts from friends and colleagues given to OEI in his memory, will create opportunities for the University of Maine to further the OEI objectives rooted in his visionary perspectives on the vast potential of ocean resources to provide clean energy options.UM will establish a Matthew R. Simmons Ocean Energy Initiative Fund in its development office to pick up the OEI mantle and support work that will advance ocean energy research and development, education, commercialization and outreach efforts.
The Ocean Energy Institute itself will cease operations Jan. 31.
OEI will close its Rockland offices and will transfer all its assets, including Matthew Simmons' library of works, to UM's AEWC Advanced Structures and Composites Center, which is home to UM's research and development activity in deep-water offshore wind.
"We will continue to forge ahead with Matt's vision to create ocean energy opportunities for our state, nation and world," said Habib Dagher, director of the UM center and the DeepCwind Consortium.
"Matt was a wonderful friend, a brilliant businessman and a great leader with whom we shared a common vision. We are particularly thankful to the Simmons family for entrusting us to carry on Matt's legacy."
Among its accomplishments since 2007, the Ocean Energy Institute was instrumental in identifying the vast potential for offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Maine and in advocating for its development and use for the benefit of the people of Maine. Read full at Bangor Daily News.
