The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has released its final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Central Atlantic region, marking a pivotal step in the evaluation of potential offshore wind development off the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia coasts.
The assessment, which considered various impacts associated with issuing leases for offshore wind projects, concluded that there would be no significant adverse effects.
“BOEM is proud to continue to support the clean energy transition in a responsible manner in the Central Atlantic region,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “We will continue to work closely with Tribes, our other government partners, ocean users, and the public to ensure that any development in the region is done in a way that avoids, reduces, or mitigates potential impacts to ocean users and the marine environment.”
BOEM intends to proceed with a lease sale in the Central Atlantic later this year, with a final sale notice (FSN) to be published at least 30 days prior to the event, outlining the specifics of the lease sale and qualified participants.
Furthermore, BOEM reiterated its commitment to thorough environmental evaluation, stating that for any proposed offshore wind projects, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be developed to assess specific impacts before making decisions on construction and operations plans.
The EIS process will involve consultation with Tribes, relevant government agencies, and input from stakeholders, ocean users, and the public.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of the Interior has approved eight commercial-scale offshore wind energy projects, signaling a significant commitment to renewable energy expansion.
BOEM's efforts have included four offshore wind lease auctions, encompassing sales in various regions including New York, New Jersey, the Carolinas, and pioneering sales in the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts.
