The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced that it intends to conduct a review of potential environmental impacts associated with the possible issuance of an offshore wind energy research lease in the Gulf of Maine.
The lease was requested by the State of Maine for the purpose of researching potential floating offshore wind energy development. The research site lies 20 nautical miles off the coast of Maine, roughly southeast of Portland, and if developed would comprise up to 12 floating offshore wind turbines capable of generating up to 144 megawatts of renewable energy. BOEM will publish a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register to state its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the wind energy research lease, which will initiate a 30-day public comment period that will end at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Jun. 5, 2023. During this period, BOEM seeks public input regarding important environmental issues and the identification of reasonable alternatives that should be considered in the EA.
