The eight draft WEAs characterize a subset of the unique 3.9 million acres of the unique Call Area introduced in April. [Image: BOEM]
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) yesterday introduced eight draft Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) offshore the U.S. central Atlantic coast, opening up a public overview and remark course of,
The draft WEAs cowl roughly 1.7 million acres offshore North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, with their closest factors starting from roughly 19 to 77 nautical miles off the U.S. central Atlantic coast.
National Ocean Industries Association President Erik Milito issued the next assertion ::
“With rising offshore wind alternatives, the states alongside the Central Atlantic coast have an opportunity to turn into a part of the following wave of offshore wind hubs. While these states will clearly profit tremendously from jobs and funding related to offshore wind growth, the advantages will stretch throughout our nation. Offshore wind is a nationwide endeavor with nationwide advantages; the extra offshore wind leases and the higher the geographical variety of latest American offshore wind tasks, the higher the advantages can be to the nationwide provide chain.
“NOIA successfully advocated for language in the Inflation Reduction Act to overturn the 10-year moratorium on offshore wind leasing in the area stretching from North Carolina down through the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. The $315 million Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease sale shows how attractive the region is for offshore wind investments. Today’s announcement will allow North Carolina and other coastal states to keep wind momentum going.”
BOEM used a complete course of to establish the potential offshore places that seem best suited for renewable vitality growth, taking into account potential impacts to native assets and ocean customers. BOEM collaborated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science to make use of an ocean planning mannequin that seeks to attenuate conflicts.
“As BOEM moves forward to identify wind energy areas in the central Atlantic, we continue to prioritize a robust and transparent process, including early engagement with tribal governments, state and federal agencies and ocean users,” mentioned BOEM Director Amanda Lefton. “We want to gather as much information and traditional knowledge as possible to help us identify Wind Energy Areas — the offshore areas that are most suitable for commercial wind energy activities while having the fewest apparent environmental and user conflicts.”
The eight draft WEAs characterize a subset of the unique 3.9 million acres of the Call Area that the Department of the Interior introduced for public remark in April 2022.
The remaining WEAs could also be additional modified after incorporating suggestions from authorities companions, ocean customers, and stakeholders. BOEM is looking for touch upon potential conflicts with the draft areas, together with with a possible U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) fairway for transiting vessels, industrial fishing, a NASA hazard zone, and marine habitat areas.
The subsequent step in BOEM’s renewable vitality leasing course of offshore the U.S. central Atlantic coast is a 30-day public remark interval beginning Nov. 16, 2022. During the remark interval, BOEM will maintain digital conferences to interact the fishing group and environmental organizations to assemble extra info on the WEAs and focus on subsequent steps. These conferences can be open to the general public.
