State Activities

Massachusetts

The comment period for the Massachusetts Call for Information and Nominations closed on March 22, 2012. BOEM received 32 comments and 10 nominations of interest in response to the Call:
- Commercial Nominations of Interest
- Comments are available through www.regulations.gov by clicking here
The BOEM Call for Information and Nominations for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Massachusetts was published in the Federal Register on February 6, 2012 under Docket ID: BOEM-2011-0097.
- Call for Information and Nominations for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the OCS Offshore Massachusetts
- Map Showing the Massachusetts Call for Information and Nominations Area
- Map Showing the Massachusetts Call for Information and Nominations Area with a NOAA Nautical Chart Background
The BOEM Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Leasing and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic OCS Offshore Massachusetts was published in the Federal Register on February 6, 2012 under Docket ID: BOEM-2011-0116.
- Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Leasing and Site Assessment on the Atlantic OCS Offshore Massachusetts
BOEM convened information sessions in Massachusetts to explain the commercial leasing process and provide additional opportunities for public input on the scope of the EA. The meetings were held on Monday, February 13 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Katharine Cornell Theatre, 54 Spring Street, Vineyard Haven and on Tuesday, February 14 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, 2nd floor, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston. The presentation from the public sessions is below:
- Presentation for the BOEM Public Information Sessions February 2012
BOEM met with the Massachusetts Fisheries Working Group in New Bedford on February 13 and the Massachusetts Habitat Working Group in Boston on February 14. The presentations from those meetings are below:
- Overview of the Massachusetts Call and Notice of Intent
- Map of Wind Energy Planning Areas from Massachusetts to Virginia as of February 2012
- Overview of Atlantic Offshore Renewable Energy Studies Program
- Overview of Fisheries Studies and Outreach for 2012
BOEM convened a Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Force teleconference on October 17, 2011 to present and discuss Task Force members’ comments and proposed changes to the draft Massachusetts Call for Information and Nominations. The BOEM presentation from the meeting is below:

Presentation for the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Force Teleconference

The BOEM Massachusetts Request for Interest was published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2010 under Docket ID: BOEM–2010–0063. BOEM published a notice in the Federal Register reopening the comment period for the Massachusetts Request for Interest on March 17, 2011.

BOEM received approximately 260 comments in response to the December 29, 2010 Massachusetts Request for Interest. The comments are available by clicking here.
Massachusetts released its comprehensive ocean management plan in January 2010 following a scientific and stakeholder process.
The final Ocean Management Plan provides new protections for critical environmental resources and sets standards for the development of community-scale and commercial-scale offshore wind energy. The Plan identifies sites in state and federal waters for commercial-scale wind development.
The BOEM and the Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs are coordinating closely to develop a path forward for commercial offshore leasing.
The BOEM is working to coordinate through a task force with the federal, state, local and tribal governments. The goal of the task force is to facilitate intergovernmental communications regarding OCS renewable energy activities.
The first meeting was held to introduce the purpose of the task force and the intergovernmental members, explain the BOEM renewable energy leasing and environmental review process, as well as introduce the Request for Interest. Files from the first Massachusetts Task Force meeting on November 19, 2009, are below:

Task Force Introduction
Introduction to the BOEM Leasing Process Please note this presentation was prepared and presented to the Task Force before the publication of 75 FR 72679-72682.
Introduction to the BOEM Environmental Review Process
Introduction to the Request for Interest

A second meeting was held to present and discuss the draft Request for Interest. The BOEM is considering all task force member comments collected on the draft Request for Interest. Files from the second Massachusetts Task Force meeting on January 27, 2010 are below:

Presentation on Draft Request for Interest

The third BOEM Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Force meeting was held on September 8, 2010 to review and discuss the revised draft Request for Interest (RFI). In addition to the revised draft RFI, task force members were updated on the Memorandum of Understanding signed on July 26, 2010 by the Governors of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as well as the Rhode Island Special Area Management Plan. Files from the third Massachusetts Task Force meeting are below:

BOEM convened a joint Massachusetts and Rhode Island Offshore Renewable Energy Task Force meeting on Friday, December 10, 2010 at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. A public question and answer session was held from 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Area of Mutual Interest (AMI), as set forth by the June 26, 2010 Memorandum of Understanding between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Presented at the Joint Task Force meeting were two unsolicited applications that were received by BOEM for commercial development within the AMI. BOEM also discussed next steps and possible scenarios in BOEM's renewable energy leasing process at the December 10 Joint Task Force Meeting. For a copy of the presentation and list of attendees for this meeting, please see below under "Rhode Island".
BOEM participated in public information sessions hosted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in New Bedford, MA on February 16, 2011 and Martha’s Vineyard, MA on February 17, 2011. The BOEM presentation from those meetings is below:
- Offshore Renewable Energy Leasing: Massachusetts
BOEM convened a joint meeting of the BOEM Rhode Island and Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Forces in New Bedford, MA on May 2, 2011. The purpose of the meeting was for BOEM to present a draft Call for Information and Nominations and discuss next steps with joint Task Force members. For a copy of the presentations and list of attendees for this meeting, please see below under “Rhode Island”.
BOEM announced at the joint meeting of BOEM Rhode Island and Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Forces on Monday, May 2, 2011, that it is reducing the area under consideration for future commercial wind energy leasing on the OCS offshore Massachusetts. This reduction is in response to multiple comments received in response to a Request for Interest (RFI) issued on December 29, 2010. For a map showing the reduction area go to here.
BOEM participated in informational meetings hosted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs with the Massachusetts Fishery Working Group on Offshore Renewable Energy in New Bedford, MA on May 2, 2011 and the Massachusetts Habitat Working Group on Offshore Renewable Energy in Boston, MA on May 4, 2011. The BOEM presentations from those meetings is below:

Update: Massachusetts Request for Interest for Massachusetts Fisheries and Habitat Working Groups

BOEM convened a teleconference with the joint BOEM Rhode Island and Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Forces on June 3, 2011. Files from the joint Task Force teleconference are listed below under "Rhode Island".
BOEM convened a Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Force meeting on June 7, 2011 at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in New Bedford, MA. BOEM presented and discussed the comments and submissions of interest received in response to the Request for Interest (RFI) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Massachusetts. BOEM will also present and discuss next steps in the planning and environmental review process offshore Massachusetts. The meeting presentations are below:

BOEM participated in informational meetings hosted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in New Bedford, MA on June 7, 2011; with the Massachusetts Habitat Working Group on Offshore Renewable Energy and the public in Boston, MA on June 8, 2011; and in Martha’s Vineyard, MA on June 9, 2011. The BOEM presentations from those meetings is below:

BOEM held public information sessions regarding the commercial wind leasing process on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts in Narragansett, RI on September 19; New Bedford, MA on September 20; and Vineyard Haven, MA on September 21. Additional details including presentations from the meeting can be found under "Rhode Island."
Cape Wind Project