Review of New England Offshore Wind Project Completed, Decision Pending on Approval

Review of New England Offshore Wind Project Completed, Decision Pending on Approval

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has recently completed the environmental review for the proposed New England Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts. This highly anticipated project is expected to generate up to 2,600 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power more than 900,000 homes. The agency’s director, Elizabeth Klein, expressed her satisfaction with the progress made towards clean energy goals that will benefit Americans in the present and future.

Situated approximately 20 nautical miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and 24 nautical miles southwest of Nantucket, the New England Wind project is spearheaded by Park City LLC. Their two-phased plan includes the installation of up to 129 wind turbine generators and up to five offshore export cables that will transmit electricity to onshore transmission systems in Barnstable and Bristol County in Massachusetts.

In December 2022, BOEM published a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) and opened a 60-day public comment period, which concluded in February 2023. The agency also conducted virtual public meetings with tribal nations, local community members, commercial fishing interests, and other stakeholders. These efforts resulted in 776 comments that were considered during the development of the final EIS.

According to Ms. Klein, the diverse public input received was crucial in conducting a careful and thorough analysis of the environmental impact of the proposed New England Wind project. BOEM will issue a record of decision regarding the approval of the project no earlier than April 2024. If approved, the record of decision will outline any conditions that need to be met.

The New England Wind project aligns with the Biden administration’s climate agenda, which aims to build 30 gigawatts of fixed-bottom offshore wind energy by 2030 and an additional 15 gigawatts of floating wind turbines by 2035. To date, the Department of Interior has approved six commercial-scale offshore wind energy projects, while BOEM has successfully conducted four offshore wind lease auctions, generating nearly $5.5 billion in high bids. These auctions have covered areas in New York, New Jersey, the Pacific, and the Gulf of Mexico.

BOEM has also made progress in exploring opportunities for offshore wind energy development in the Gulf of Maine, the Gulf of Mexico, offshore Oregon, and the Central Atlantic coast. These initiatives demonstrate the government’s commitment to expanding renewable energy sources and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Petition Opposing Offshore Wind Project

In January 2023, an online petition was launched in opposition to offshore wind farms. The petition gained traction due to the deaths of numerous whales along the East Coast. As of now, it has gathered over 520,000 signatures. The petition, initiated by Keith Moore, demands an immediate injunction to halt all offshore wind activities proposed and implemented along the New Jersey shore.

The petition raises concerns about “irreversible ecological damage” to the marine environment and the potential harm or death of thousands of marine species caused by the proposed offshore wind farms. It argues that these projects have been fast-tracked without sufficient public input and with affected cities and towns being denied the right to home rule.

Additionally, the petition calls for an independent and transparent investigation into whale deaths that have occurred in New Jersey over the past few months. It claims that federal agencies have disregarded concerns about the impact of wind farms on whales.

On March 16, 2023, four Republican congressmen held a hearing in Wildwood, New Jersey, where they called for a pause on all offshore wind projects. Representative Christopher Smith and his colleagues believe that federal agencies need to reassess the environmental review processes for offshore wind projects. They argue that concerns related to whale welfare have been ignored.

In conclusion, the review of the New England Wind project is an important step towards achieving clean energy goals. The proposed project has the potential to generate a substantial amount of electricity and reduce carbon emissions. However, concerns raised in the online petition opposing offshore wind farms highlight the need for thorough assessments of environmental impacts and the consideration of potential harm to marine life. The decision on whether to approve the project will have significant implications for both the renewable energy sector and environmental conservation efforts.