BOEM greenlights lease for floating wind research in Gulf of Maine

The deployment of floating offshore wind turbines in the Gulf of Maine will have no significant impact on the environment, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

The government agency on Tuesday released the Final Environmental Assessment of an offshore wind research lease within the proposed area, allowing for the issuance of a wind energy research lease in state waters without the need to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. Maine has been offered a research lease and will have 30 days to accept, reject, or request modifications to it.

The area covered by the assessment is located 28 nautical miles off the coast of Maine, southeast of Portland. If fully developed, it could host up to 12 floating turbine generators with a combined capacity of up to 144 MW.

Maine has set a goal of deploying up to 3 GW of offshore wind turbine capacity by 2040. In March, BOEM designated a Final Wind Energy Area in the Gulf of Maine holding the potential to accommodate 32 GW of capacity. The New England state is currently collecting feedback regarding its first commercial offshore wind solicitation.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!