Offshore wind turbines are big and getting bigger. The 62 turbines currently under construction off the coast of Massachusetts (Vineyard Wind) will produce 13 megawatts (MW) of power, each. Their blades will be 837 feet … Continue reading
Financial Future Changing for Offshore Wind Energy Projects
Building a wind farm costs money. Building an offshore wind farm costs a lot more money. The international corporations vying to build massive wind farms in offshore waters along the East Coast have deep pockets. … Continue reading
Maine Adopts New Law to Advance Offshore Wind – Seeks to Protect Fishing Industry
First published in Landings, September 2023 On July 27, LD 1895 An Act Regarding the Procurement of Energy from Offshore Wind Resources became law. This law aims to achieve 3,000 megawatts (3 GW) of installed … Continue reading
Lobstermen Challenge BOEM Leasing Process
First published in Landings, September 2023 The Bureau of Offshore Energy Management (BOEM) held outreach meetings in Portland, Ellsworth, and Rockport, as well as in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in late July. The purpose of … Continue reading
Wind energy moving fast in the Gulf of Maine
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) held a two-day meeting of the Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force in Bangor in May. The Task Force is composed of federal, state, local and … Continue reading
BOEM Seeks Public Input on Gulf of Maine Offshore Wind Energy Areas
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in late April published its Gulf of Maine Call for Information and Nominations (Call). This Call invites public comment on, and assesses interest in, possible commercial wind energy … Continue reading
Guest Column: Controlling your fishing data equals power
The installation of offshore wind energy (OSW) facilities is fast becoming one of the biggest concerns for the fishing industry throughout the nation. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has leased over 3,500 square … Continue reading
Fishermen, Environmental Organizations Uurge BOEM to Slow Gulf of Maine Leasing Process
First published in Landings, November 2022 On August 19, the Bureau of Offshore Energy Management (BOEM) published two notices in the Federal Register to solicit public comment to move forward on offshore wind development in … Continue reading
In the News – November 2022
First published in Landings, November 2022. Whale Statistics Modified, Little ChangesNMFS announced on October 24 that it would be using updated data in its preliminary 2020 North Atlantic right whale population estimate. The agency drew … Continue reading
In the News – September 2022
BOEM Takes First Step in Gulf Wind Leases In August the Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published a Request for Interest (RFI) and Request for Competitive Interest (RFCI) in the offshore … Continue reading