What’s New?
On August 29, 2022, BOEM announced the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Revolution Wind Farm project offshore Rhode Island.
The Notice of Availability for the Revolution Wind DEIS published in the Federal Register on September 2, 2022, opening a 45-day public comment period, which ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on October 17, 2022. The input received via this process will inform preparation of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
For more information, visit the Revolution Wind project page.
Efforts Underway
There are several renewable energy efforts underway offshore Massachusetts.
- Gulf of Maine Offshore Wind Energy Planning
- Commercial Wind Leases Offshore Massachusetts
- Beacon Wind LLC (OCS-A 0520)
- Bay State Wind (OCS-A 0500)
- Vineyard Wind (OCS-A 0501)
- Mayflower Wind Energy LLC (OCS-A-0521)
- New England Wind (OCS-A 0534)(formerly Vineyard Wind South)
- Commercial Wind Leases Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts
- South Fork (OCS-A 0517)
- Revolution Wind (OCS-A 0486)
- Sunrise Wind (OCS-A 0487)
- Cape Wind Project (Relinquished)
- Commercial Leases OCS-A 0520, 0521, and 0522
Public Engagement
BOEM coordinates Outer Continental Shelf renewable energy activities offshore Massachusetts with its federal, state, local, and tribal government partners through its Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force. BOEM also coordinates public information meetings to help keep interested stakeholders updated on major renewable energy milestones. To obtain information discussed during these meetings click on the links below.
Related Press Releases
- BOEM Seeks Public Comment on Draft Environmental Analysis for Proposed Wind Energy Project Offshore Rhode Island (8/29/2022)
- Biden-Harris Administration Continues Offshore Wind Momentum, Announces Next Steps for Gulf of Maine (8/18/2022)
- Interior Department Takes Action to Advance Offshore Wind in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (10/28/2021)
- BOEM Announces Environmental Review of Wind Energy Project Proposed for Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts (06/28/2021)
- BOEM Announces Environmental Review of Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts (04/29/2021)
- BIDDING BONANZA! Trump Administration Smashes Record for Offshore Wind Auction with $405 Million in Winning Bids (12/14/2018)
- BOEM Announces Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore Massachusetts (11/30/2018)
- Trump Administration Delivers Historic Progress on Offshore Wind (10/18/2018)
- Trump Administration Proposes Sale for Wind Energy Off Massachusetts Coast (04/06/2018)
- BOEM and MassCEC Release Marine Wildlife Survey Results to Guide Offshore Wind Development (10/25/2016)
- Interior Department Leases Area Offshore Massachusetts for Wind Energy Development(1/29/2015)
- Interior to Auction More Than 742,000 Acres Offshore Massachusetts for Wind Energy Development (11/24/2014)
- Secretary Jewell, Governor Patrick Announced the Nation's Largest Offshore Wind Energy Area Available for Commercial Development (6/17/2014)
- Interior Holds First-Ever Competitive Lease Sale for Renewable Energy in Federal Waters(7/31/2013)
- BOEM Identifies Wind Energy Area Offshore Massachusetts for Potential Commercial Leasing (5/30/2012)
- Obama Administration Initiates Leasing Process for Commercial Wind Development Offshore Massachusetts (2/3/2012)
- BOEMRE Initiates Leasing Process for Commercial Wind Development Offshore Massachusetts (12/28/2010)
- Salazar Launches 'Smart from the Start' Initiative to Speed Offshore Wind Energy Development off the Atlantic Coast (11/23/2010)
Environmental Studies
BOEM has funded or considered numerous studies to collect information about the marine environment to support decisions concerning offshore renewable energy development. For more information, please visit: http://www.boem.gov/Massachusetts-Environmental-Studies.
Visual Simulations
In response to stakeholder interest regarding visual impacts from potential future renewable energy development within the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Wind Energy Areas, BOEM undertook a project to develop daytime and nighttime photomontages and 24 hour day-through-night videos to simulate what turbines might look like if these six lease areas were fully developed.