The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the USA's first floating offshore wind energy research lease. The lease covers nearly 15,000 acres, located 28 nautical miles offshore from Maine on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. It could facilitate the deployment of up to 12 floating offshore wind turbines, generating up to 144MW of renewable energy.
The research array will enable the State of Maine, the fishing community, wildlife experts, the offshore wind industry, and others to conduct comprehensive studies, thoroughly evaluating floating offshore wind as a renewable energy source in the region. This research will assess the technology's compatibility with existing ocean uses and its potential effects on the environment, supply chains, and job creation.
BOEM received the State of Maine's application for a renewable energy research lease in October 2021. On March 20, 2023, BOEM issued a Determination of No Competitive Interest for the area identified in Maine's application.
Throughout the application review and lease development process, BOEM worked closely with the State of Maine Governor’s Energy Office to create a lease that supports high-quality offshore wind research in the Gulf of Maine. Following a Final Environmental Assessment and a finding of no significant impacts, BOEM offered the research lease to the State of Maine on May 24, 2024.
As a research lease, the State of Maine or its designated operator will conduct research on the environmental and engineering aspects of the proposed project. This information will be made public to inform future planning, permitting, and construction of commercial-scale floating offshore wind projects in the region.
Construction on the research array is unlikely to begin for several years. The lessee must first submit a Research Activities Plan to BOEM, which will undergo environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act. Further details on the timing of construction will become clearer as the permitting process progresses.
