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Renewables
Charley Rattan
Charley Rattan
Top Contributor
 · Posted in Renewables

Wind Energy Area (Draft WEA) in the Gulf of Maine

 

On Oct. 19, 2023, BOEM announced a Draft Wind Energy Area (Draft WEA) in the Gulf of Maine and an accompanying a 30-day public comment period.  The Draft WEA covers approximately 3,519,067 acres offshore Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, ranging from approximately 23 - 120 miles off the coast.  

BOEM has taken the next step in building U.S. offshore wind capacity through its announcement yesterday of a draft Wind Energy Area (WEA) in the Gulf of Maine. The Draft WEA covers approximately 3,519,067 acres offshore Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, ranging from approximately 23 - 120 miles off the coast. 

BOEM and NOAA used a comprehensive process with detailed modeling and public feedback to identify an area that appears most suitable for floating offshore wind energy leasing and potential development, taking into consideration possible impacts to coastal and marine resources and ocean users. The Draft WEA represents a 64% reduction from the Call Area, which BOEM announced for comment in April 2023.

BOEM identified three Secondary Areas for Further Analysis (Secondary Areas) to o give Maine and its stakeholders additional options for consideration and comment given the State’s offshore wind renewable energy goals and the considerable distance of the Draft WEA from potential points of interconnection in Maine.

 

 

 

Offshore Wind and Hydrogen

 

 

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