BOEM Opens Public Consultation on New York Bight Lease Areas

January 9, 2024, by Adnan Memija

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has launched a public consultation on the potential development of six wind lease areas offshore New York and New Jersey, in an area known as the New York Bight.

In February 2022, BOEM held an auction that brought in over USD 4.3 billion for the rights to six lease areas in the New York Bight – a record amount for any US offshore renewable or conventional energy lease sale.

BOEM estimates that the full development of leases in this area, totaling over 488,00 acres, has the potential to create up to 5.6 to 7 GW of offshore wind, enough to power up to two million homes.

This is the first time BOEM has conducted a regional analysis of offshore renewable energy development and operations over multiple lease areas, according to BOEM.

The agency said it decided to take this additional step to complete a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) because of the close proximity of the six lease areas and the timing of when BOEM expects to receive future project plans for review.

The Draft PEIS analyzes programmatic avoidance, minimization, mitigation, and monitoring measures that BOEM may require as conditions of its approval for any proposed offshore wind projects in the New York Bight.

The “Notice of Availability of a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Expected Wind Energy Development in the New York Bight” will be published in the Federal Register on 12 January, which initiates a 45-day public comment period ending on 26 February.

BOEM will hold three in-person and two virtual public meetings.

“We look forward to receiving additional public comment to inform this first ever regional environmental review of offshore wind energy development on multiple leases. We are confident that this comprehensive approach can create efficiencies for future project-specific wind energy reviews in a manner that protects the ocean environment and marine life,” said Elizabeth Klein, BOEM Director.