The UNITED STATE Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Tuesday welcomed public discuss feasible industrial wind power growth in locations offshore Massachusetts, New Hampshire, as well as Maine.
BOEM stated the telephone call stood for a very early action in the industrial preparation as well as leasing procedure in the Gulf fo Maine, as well as the initial called for by BOEM policies.
“BOEM is committed to transparent, inclusive and data-driven processes, and public input is essential to helping us determine areas that may be suitable for offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine,” stated BOEMDirector Elizabeth Klein “We are still early in the planning and leasing process, and we look forward to the multiple future opportunities for engagement.”
BOEM will certainly release the Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Gulf of Maine Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) – Call for Information as well as Nominations in the Federal Register onApr 26, 2023, which will certainly launch a 45-day public remark duration. BOEM will certainly approve elections as well as remarks with 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time onJun 12, 2023.
After the general public remark duration shuts, BOEM will certainly examine as well as evaluate industrial elections as well as public remarks sent in feedback to theCall BOEM will certainly likewise think about info from federal government as well as Tribal appointments as well as the Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force to more assess the suitability of the Call Area for overseas wind power growth.
In August 2022, the Department of the Interior revealed a “Request for Interest” (RFI) to assess whether industrial passion existed in getting wind power leases within a location in the Gulf of Maine making up concerning 13.7 million acres.The last Call Area, released today, lowers the RFI location to 9.8 million acres, a virtually 30 percent decrease.
In the last Call Area, BOEM eliminated around 160,000 acres from future factor to consider to stay clear ofGeorges Bank
“The Call Area remains broad to provide flexibility to minimize conflicts with other uses. BOEM will use a powerful spatial analytical tool, called an ecosystem-wide suitability model, developed in partnership with NCCOS, to help identify where conflicts may exist and inform decisions regarding the most appropriate Wind Energy Areas to meet the states’ and Biden-Harris administration’s offshore renewable energy goals,” BOEM stated.
Through the info exchanges on the draft Call Area, BOEM has actually recognized 4 locations that BOEM especially looks for public input on throughout this following stage of testimonial, consisting of: Lobster Management Area I, Platts Bank, Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan Restricted Areas, as well as Georges Bank (the quickly surrounding location along the southerly limit of the Call Area).
“This is not an exhaustive list; however, it represents the areas that were most commented on in the most recent public engagement. BOEM looks forward to receiving more information during the Call comment period regarding the suitability of these areas for potential renewable energy development,” BOEM stated.
BOEM will certainly organize its 3rd Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force conference May 10-11, 2023, in Bangor, Maine.
The function of the conference is to upgrade Task Force participants as well as the general public on BOEM’s industrial as well as research study overseas wind power preparation tasks as well as to talk about following actions for the Gulf ofMaine The public is urged to attend this conference, BOEM stated.
