US Opens Public Consultation on 15 GW Offshore Wind Energy Area in Gulf of Maine

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has issued a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Wind Energy Area (WEA) in the Gulf of Maine. The WEA spans the federal waters off Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire and includes eight potential leasing areas that could house 15 GW of installed offshore wind capacity.

The draft EA is related to the potential impacts of offshore wind energy leasing in the Gulf of Maine and considers the potential environmental impacts associated with activities such as surveys and installation of meteorological buoys. Environmental reviews for any potential offshore wind projects in the WEA would be performed separately if a lease sale is held and before approving any proposed offshore wind project.

By issuing a notice of availability of the draft EA on 21 June, BOEM kicked off a 30-day public review and comment period. Input received through the public consultation will be used to develop a final EA, which will inform BOEM’s decision on whether to hold a commercial wind energy lease sale in the Gulf of Maine WEA.

“As we move forward with our renewable energy process to consider proposed offshore wind activities in the Gulf of Maine, BOEM will continue to engage with Tribes, other governmental agencies, ocean users, local communities and others,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “Our primary objective is to ensure that any future offshore wind development is done in a way that avoids or minimizes potential impacts on other ocean activities and the marine environment.”

BOEM announced that it would prepare an EA on potential impacts from offshore wind energy leasing in the Gulf of Maine on 15 March, after the federal agency finalised its designation of a Wind Energy Area, which BOEM said had the potential to support 32 GW of offshore wind generation capacity.

The US Department of the Interior (DOI) and BOEM proposed an offshore wind energy lease sale in the Gulf of Maine the following month, when BOEM said the WEA contains eight lease areas offshore Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire which have the potential to generate approximately 15 GW of renewable energy and power more than five million homes.