The US Department of the Interior has announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will conduct an environmental review of a proposed wind energy project offshore North Carolina. This project, if approved, would be the first to operate offshore North Carolina.
BOEM will review a Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted by Kitty Hawk Wind (Kitty Hawk) for a commercial-scale, offshore wind energy project consisting of up to 69 total wind turbine generators, one offshore substation, inter-array cables, and up to two transmission cables that will make landfall in Virginia Beach. As part of BOEM’s environmental review, the agency must first identify what should be considered in the EIS, such as important resources and issues, potential impacts to the environment, reasonable alternatives, and mitigation measures. During the 30-day public comment period, BOEM will hold three virtual public meetings.