The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced it finalised its designation of a Wind Energy Area (WEA) in the Gulf of Maine.The Final WEA has the potential to support generation of 32 GW of clean energy, surpassing current state goals for offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Maine: 10 GW for Massachusetts and 3 GW for Maine. BOEM will publish a notice in the Federal Register on March 18 announcing its intent to prepare an environmental assessment of potential impacts from offshore wind leasing activities in the WEA. The notice will initiate a 30-day public comment period. Another public comment period would occur if BOEM decides to move forward with a lease sale in the WEA. The WEA totals about two million acres offshore Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, ranging from approximately 23 – 92 miles off the coast.
