The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has published eight draft Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) off the US central Atlantic coast for public review and comment.
Together, the draft WEAs cover approximately 1.7 million acres offshore, off North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, with their closest points ranging from approximately 19 to 77 nautical miles off the US central Atlantic coast.
BOEM used a comprehensive process to identify the potential offshore locations that appear most suitable for renewable energy development, taking into consideration possible impacts to local resources and ocean users.
The government agency BOEM collaborated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science to use an ocean planning model that seeks to minimise conflicts.
The eight draft WEAs represent a subset of the original 3.9 million acres of the Call Area that the Department of the Interior announced for public comment in April 2022.
BOEM Director Amanda Lefton said: “We want to gather as much information and traditional knowledge as possible to help us identify Wind Energy Areas — the offshore areas that are most suitable for commercial wind energy activities while having the fewest apparent environmental and user conflicts.”
The final WEAs may be further modified after incorporating feedback from government partners, ocean users, and stakeholders.
BOEM is seeking comment on potential conflicts with the draft areas, including with a potential US Coast Guard (USCG) fairway for transiting vessels, commercial fishing, a NASA danger zone, and marine habitat areas.
BOEM will accept comments from 16 November until 16 December 2022.
Sam Salustro, vice president of Strategic Communications at the Business Network for Offshore Wind, said: “The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management preserved only 50% percent of available wind resources for offshore wind deployment, and it is critical these areas, primary and secondary, remain as intact as possible to fulfil states’ long-term energy demands.
“The advancement of the full lease areas in the Central Atlantic will further bolster a budding manufacturing supply chain from Paulsboro, New Jersey to Baltimore and Hampton Roads, Virginia and will lead to the genesis of a robust Atlantic Coast floating offshore wind supply chain.”