Smart from the Start

Salazar Launches 'Smart from the Start' Initiative to Speed Offshore Wind Energy Development off the Atlantic Coast (November 23, 2010)  
 

North Carolina   

• The Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for commercial wind leasing and site assessment activities offshore North Carolina was published in the Federal Register on December 13, 2012 under Docket ID: BOEM-2012-0090. The NOI is available here.

Maine

• Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Potential Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Approval of Construction and Operations Plan Offshore Maine(August 10, 2012)

Massachusetts  

• BOEM announced the availability of an environmental assessment that analyzes potential environmental effects associated with renewable energy leasing and data gathering in the WEA off the coast of Massachusetts
  • Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Massachusetts-Environmental Assessment  
  • Appendix H Visual Simulations for Meteorological Tower-Video Simulations
    • Madaket Beach
    • South Beach
  • Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment 
  • Comments received on Environmental Assessment
• BOEM held public information sessions in MA to provide an overview of BOEM’s recently published Environmental Assessment, solicit public comment and discuss next steps in the environmental and leasing processes. The meetings were held on November 13 in Boston and New Bedford, November 14 in Vineyard Haven, and November 15 in Nantucket. The presentation from the public sessions is below:
  • Presentation from the BOEM public information sessions November 2012

• BOEM announced the area identification under the Smart from the Start initiative toward responsible siting, leasing and construction of new projects by defining a Wind Energy Area (WEA) for off the coast of Massachusetts on May 30, 2012.
• Additional information on the Massachusetts Area Identification  
• Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Leasing and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Massachusetts  

Rhode Island and Massachusetts

• BOEM announced the availability of an environmental assessment that analyzes potential environmental effects associated with renewable energy leasing and data gathering in the WEA off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts on July 2, 2012.
• Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment
• Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts-Environmental Assessment
• Comments received on Environmental Assessment
• BOEM convened information sessions in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to provide additional opportunities for public input on the Environmental Assessment and to explain the commercial leasing process. The meetings were held on Monday, July 16 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the University of Rhode Island Coastal Institute, 218 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI and on Tuesday, July 17  from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, in New Bedford, MA. The presentation from the public sessions is below:
  • Presentation for the BOEM Public Information Sessions July 2012  

• BOEM announced the area identification under the Smart from the Start initiative toward responsible siting, leasing and construction of new projects by defining a Wind Energy Area (WEA) for off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts on February 24, 2012
• Additional Information on the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Area Identification
• Map Showing the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Wind Energy Area
• Map Showing the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Wind Energy Area with a NOAA Nautical Chart Background  
• Public Input Requested on Potential Impacts to Historic Priorities: Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Characterization Activities (10/27/2011) 
• Comments received on the Notice of Intent
• Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Characterization Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts (August 18, 2011)

New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia

• Finding of No Historic Properties Affected for the Issuance of Commercial Leases within the New Jersey Wind Energy Area.
• Finding of No Historic Properties Affected for the Issuance of Commercial Leases within the Maryland Wind Energy Area
• Finding of No Historic Properties Affected for the Issuance of Commercial Leases within the Virginia Wind Energy Area.
• Finding of No Historic Properties Affected for the Issuance of Commercial Leases within the Delaware Wind Energy Area.
• Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia Final Environmental Assessment(February 2012)
• Notice of the Availability (NOA) of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact (02/03/2012)
• Public Input Requested on Potential Impacts to Historic Priorities: Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Characterization Activities (10/20/2011)
• Comments received on the Draft Environmental Assessment
• Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Characterization Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia - Draft Environmental Assessment (July 2011)
• Notice of the Availability of an Environmental Assessment: Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Characterization Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (July 12 2011)
• Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia (Mid-Atlantic Regional EA) (February 9, 2011)

Map of Wind Energy Areas:  

• Map of Wind Energy Areas