The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the availability of its Final Environmental Assessment (Final EA) for an offshore wind research lease in the Gulf of Maine.Maine requested the lease in October 2021 to study floating offshore wind energy technology and deployment. The research site is located 28 nautical miles off the coast of Maine, southeast of Portland. If developed, it could host up to 12 floating offshore wind turbines capable of generating up to 144 megawatts of renewable energy. BOEM published the "Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment for a Wind Energy Research Lease on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Maine" in the Federal Register on May 29, 2024. After reviewing alternatives and public comments on the Draft EA, BOEM concluded that issuing the lease and conducting related activities would not significantly impact the environment. Therefore, under the National Environmental Policy Act, BOEM is not obligated to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the offshore Maine lease. Following the Final EA and determination of no significant impacts, BOEM offered the research lease to Maine on May 24, 2024. The state has 30 days to accept, reject, or request modifications to the lease.
