The US Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is to publish a draft environmental analysis of Orsted and energy provider Eversource’s 132MW South Fork offshore wind project.
The draft environmental impact statement (EIS) of the site off the coast of New York will examine the environmental impacts of the proposed development.
It will also look at reasonable alternatives to the JV’s proposals.
BOEM is to hold three virtual public meetings and accept comments from interested parties on the 15-turbine project situated off the tip of Long Island.
It will issue a Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft EIS will publish in the Federal Register on 8 January.
The NOA publication opens a 45-day public comment period.
The input received via this process will inform preparation of the Final EIS, the findings of which will be used to inform BOEM’s decision on whether to approve South Fork Wind’s proposed project.
Comments on the Draft EIS should be submitted or postmarked no later than 22 February 2021.
BOEM Acting Director Walter Cruickshank said:”BOEM remains committed to a permitting process that reduces potential conflicts with other important uses of the ocean, such as fishing, while establishing a strong foundation for wind projects moving forward.
“The feedback provided by our many stakeholders will help inform the Final Environmental Impact Statement and provide invaluable insight to decision makers.”
There are currently only two demonstration offshore wind projects in the US in operation – Orsted’s 30MW Block Island site off the coast of Rhode Island and the 12MW Coastal Virginia scheme, owned by Dominion Energy