America Bureau of Ocean Power Administration (BOEM) has finalized a wind vitality space (WEA) within the Gulf of Maine overlaying about two million acres providing a possible 32 gigawatts (GW) of energy, the Inside Division bureau mentioned.
The WEA sits 23–92 miles off the coast of the states of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire based on the BOEM.
The designation represents an 80 p.c discount from the realm recognized by the BOEM for potential leasing, after consultations with stakeholders, the bureau mentioned in a information launch.
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The BOEM launched a public remark Monday on potential environmental impacts if it proceeds to public sale the realm for improvement. The general public has till April 17 to file feedback, which might be achieved on-line or by postal service.
“BOEM finalized the WEA after in depth engagement with the states of Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, Tribes, native residents, ocean customers together with the fishing group, federal authorities companions, and different members of the general public”, the announcement said.
“The ensuing WEA avoids vital areas for lobster fishing, North Atlantic proper whale habitat, and different vital fishing areas and habitats”, it mentioned. “Moreover, in response to preliminary conversations with Tribal Nations positioned inside Maine, the WEA strives to keep away from a majority of the historic and present-day fishing grounds of these Tribes”.
BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein mentioned in an announcement, “We stay devoted to participating with Tribal governments, federal and state companies, ocean stakeholders, coastal communities, and all events as we progress via our environmental evaluate”.
The press launch added, “BOEM will search to keep away from or decrease remaining ocean use and useful resource conflicts in subsequent phases of the leasing course of”.
Additionally on Monday the BOEM launched a separate public remark for Shell PLC and EDF SA’s improvement plan for a wind lease space of about 81,129 acres offshore New Jersey. The general public has till Might 2 to submit feedback.
The challenge, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind LLC, is deliberate to generate over 5.0 GW, based on the three way partnership.
The BOEM mentioned in a separate media launch, “The Atlantic Shores’ proposal presently contains set up of as much as 157 wind turbine turbines, eight offshore substations, one everlasting meteorological tower, and two non permanent metocean buoys – for a complete of as much as 168 offshore constructions”.
“The COP [construction and operations plan] additionally proposes two potential export cable corridors that will make landfall at: (1) Sea Girt, New Jersey, and (2) in both the New York Metropolis space or close to Asbury Park, New Jersey”, the BOEM added.
On February 26 the BOEM mentioned it had accomplished the environmental evaluate for Avangrid Inc’s New England Wind challenge, with the choice anticipated by April. Deliberate to rise 20 nautical miles south of Martha’s Winery and about 24 nautical miles southwest of Nantucket in Massachusetts, the challenge has a deliberate capability of 804 megawatts (MW), based on data from the BOEM and challenge implementer Park Metropolis Wind LLC.
On February 22 the BOEM mentioned it had given the go-signal to Equinor ASA to proceed with the development of two wind energy initiatives offshore New Jersey and New York with a mixed capability of two,076 MW.
On February 13 the BOEM mentioned it had finalized two (WEAs) off the coast of Oregon, overlaying about 195,000 acres that provide a possible 2.4 GW,
The BOEM has to date held 4 offshore wind lease auctions, all final yr. The gross sales attracted practically $5.5 billion in excessive bids, providing initiatives within the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Pacific waters, in addition to New Jersey and New York, based on the BOEM.
On March 29, 2021, the Power Division introduced objectives of 30 GW of offshore wind deployment by 2030 towards no less than 110 GW by 2050. On September 22, 2022, the Biden administration introduced a goal of 15 GW for floating wind farms by 2035.
“BOEM is exploring further alternatives for offshore wind vitality improvement within the U.S., together with the U.S. Central Atlantic coast”, the bureau mentioned within the information launch saying the Gulf of Maine WEA.
“The Division additionally continues to take steps to evolve its method to offshore wind to drive in the direction of union-built initiatives and a domestic-based provide chain”.
To contact the writer, e-mail jov.onsat@rigzone.com
