USA: BOEM Reduces Wind Energy Area to Protect Fishing Grounds

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has decided to reduce the size of its Wind Energy Area by 20 percent for the purpose of decreasing possible negative impacts on important fishing grounds.

That area covers around 165,000 acres of federal water between Block Island and Martha’s Vineyard.

Deepwater Wind had planned to install turbines for a 1,000 megawatt offshore wind farm within the area. Currently, there are some plans for a smaller five turbine project near Block Island.

The new zone has been divided into two halves.

Senator Jack Reed said: “This will help protect the livelihoods of Rhode Island’s fishermen and move forward with establishing commercial wind energy development in Rhode Island, which can bring critical jobs and investment to the state”.

Rhode Island has secured $22 million in federal funding in order to develop Quonset Point and is now searching for appropriate zones for future wind projects.

Before any new decision, BOEM is going to organize an environmental assessment, to see the possible impacts of an offshore wind project in the area. For now, they have identified four new wind energy areas off the Atlantic coast.

[mappress]
Offshore WIND  Staff, March 07, 2012; Image:  boem