Announcements
- NYC Comptroller Releases Report on Meeting New York City’s Energy Demand Challenge
The Office of the New York City Comptroller released a comprehensive report examining the challenges facing New York City’s clean energy transition, including the implications of the ongoing federal actions affecting offshore wind development. The report notes that New York City is at a critical moment in its energy transition, with rising electricity demand, aging infrastructure, affordability pressures, and increasingly severe weather converging as the City works to decarbonize its electricity supply. The report evaluates the role of offshore wind, including the Empire Wind and Sunrise Wind projects serving New York, in meeting the City’s climate and energy goals, and assesses the risks posed by federal project suspensions, lease buybacks, and permitting freezes to the City’s energy security and ratepayer costs. The analysis highlights the tension between state and local clean energy mandates and federal policies that have curtailed the offshore wind projects intended to help meet those mandates, with direct implications for electricity reliability and affordability in the nation’s largest city. More information can be found here.
- New Lawsuit Targets Offshore Wind Farm Leases Off Cape Cod and New York
A new federal lawsuit has been filed challenging offshore wind farm leases in waters off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and New York, adding to the complex litigation landscape surrounding East Coast offshore wind development. The lawsuit comes as multiple legal challenges to offshore wind projects are progressing through the federal courts, with competing claims from project supporters and opponents creating a patchwork of legal rulings that have alternately blocked and permitted construction to proceed. The new litigation represents the ongoing efforts by some fishing community members, coastal property owners, and environmental organizations to challenge the legal basis for offshore wind leasing and permitting decisions. The suit adds to the uncertainty facing developers and the fishing industry alike, as the legal status of offshore wind projects continues to evolve through multiple court proceedings. More information can be found here.
- 19 States Sue Department of Defense Over Freeze of Wind Project Reviews
Nineteen state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense (DoD) in U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon, alleging that the DoD unlawfully froze routine reviews of wind energy projects across the country beginning in August 2025. The complaint states that the DoD is required by federal law to review proposed wind projects for potential national security concerns and to work with developers to address any issues, but that the agency abruptly stopped moving projects through this review process. The freeze has affected more than 100 pending wind projects nationwide at various stages of the DoD review process, effectively blocking development by withholding the required federal sign-off on potential impacts to military operations, radar systems, and flight paths. The lawsuit has implications for offshore wind as well as onshore projects, as the same DoD review process applies to both, and a ruling in the Oregon case could influence how courts view the broader Trump administration campaign against offshore wind development. More information can be found here.
- Research Examines Jonah Crab Habitat Use Near Offshore Wind Turbines
Researchers at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography are studying how Jonah crabs (Cancer borealis) are utilizing offshore wind turbine foundations as habitat, as the Southern New England lobster population continues to decline. Emmanuel Oyewole, a Ph.D. student in the McMahon Ocean Ecogeochemistry Lab, has been working with commercial fishermen to collect Jonah crabs from areas near wind turbines and using stable isotope analysis to track their movements and habitat use over time. The research seeks to answer whether offshore wind structures are enhancing local production of crabs and other species – effectively creating new habitat – or whether they are simply aggregating or concentrating existing biomass from surrounding areas. The Jonah crab fishery has grown substantially in recent years as lobsters have declined in Southern New England waters. The research sits at the intersection of climate-driven species shifts, the growth of offshore wind infrastructure, and the economic adaptation of the region’s commercial fishing fleet, and aims to inform science-based management of these changing marine ecosystems. More information can be found here.
- Interior Department Finalizes Merger of BOEM and BSEE into Marine Minerals Administration
The Department of the Interior (Doi) signed an order creating the Marine Minerals Administration, a new bureau that reunifies the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), the two agencies that have separately managed offshore energy leasing and safety oversight since they were split in the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The merger reverses the key regulatory reform implemented after the oil spill, which was designed to separate the revenue-generating leasing function from the safety enforcement function to avoid conflicts of interest. BOEM currently manages offshore oil and gas leasing, environmental reviews, and renewable energy leasing – including all offshore wind lease activities on the Outer Continental Shelf – while BSEE oversees safety operations and enforcement. Former investigators of the regulatory failures that contributed to the Deepwater Horizon disaster have cautioned that recombining the agencies could compromise safety and environmental oversight. The merger has significant implications for offshore wind developers and the fishing community, as it consolidates within a single bureau the functions of leasing offshore wind areas, conducting environmental reviews, and overseeing operational safety – functions that affect how fisheries impacts are assessed, mitigated, and monitored. More information can be found here.
- DOI Reaches Fourth Offshore Wind Lease Buyout Deal as Duke Energy Exits Carolina Long Bay
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced a settlement agreement with Duke Energy under which the utility will voluntarily terminate its offshore wind lease in the Carolina Long Bay Wind Energy Area off the coast of North Carolina in exchange for nearly $129 million in partial reimbursement. The agreement represents the fourth offshore wind lease buyout deal reached by the Trump administration, bringing total buyout expenditures to nearly $2.6 billion across multiple agreements with developers on the East and West Coasts. Previous buyout deals included agreements with Invenergy and energyRe for the Leading Light Wind project off New Jersey, Golden State Wind off California, and other developers holding federal offshore wind leases. Duke Energy’s exit removes the last remaining offshore wind project proposed for the Carolina Long Bay area, narrowing North Carolina’s near-term offshore wind development pipeline. The buyout program, which the administration has characterized as addressing national security concerns, has drawn sharp criticism from state officials, environmental groups, and some industry participants who argue the payments constitute an improper use of taxpayer funds to dismantle a lawful industry. More information can be found here.
- First U.S.-Flagged Jones Act Subsea Rock Installation Vessel Delivered
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) took delivery of the MV Acadia, the first U.S.-flagged, Jones Act-compliant subsea rock installation vessel (SRIV), marking a significant milestone for the domestic offshore wind construction fleet. The vessel, ordered from Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania, is designed to install protective rock layers around offshore wind turbine foundations and subsea cables, a critical component of offshore wind farm construction that protects infrastructure from scour and provides cable burial and protection. The Acadia’s delivery represents a strategic investment in U.S. maritime capabilities at a time when the offshore wind project pipeline has been severely diminished by federal actions, raising questions about near-term vessel utilization. The vessel is expected to serve projects along the U.S. East Coast, though the shrinking pipeline of active offshore wind projects may limit deployment opportunities. The Acadia joins the Charybdis (the first Jones Act-compliant wind turbine installation vessel) and the ECO Liberty (a U.S.-built service operations vessel) as part of the emerging fleet of specialized U.S.-flagged offshore wind vessels. More information can be found here.
- Vineyard Wind 1 Completion Celebrated in New Bedford Amid Financial Disputes
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey joined union workers and industry representatives in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to celebrate the completion of Vineyard Wind 1, the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, even as the project continued to face financial disputes with turbine manufacturer GE Vernova. While all 62 turbines were installed, the project was not operating at full capacity at the time of the celebration due to ongoing disagreements over turbine performance guarantees and warranty obligations. The turbine troubles at Vineyard Wind 1 have raised broader questions about turbine reliability, manufacturer accountability, and the financial risks borne by project developers and, ultimately, ratepayers. More information can be found here.
- Massachusetts Explores Permitting and Negotiating Flexibility for Offshore Wind
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, speaking at an event in New Bedford celebrating the completion of the Vineyard Wind 1 project, indicated that her administration is exploring new legislative and regulatory tools to provide greater flexibility in offshore wind permitting and contract negotiations. With Vineyard Wind 1 likely to be the only offshore wind farm to become a reality in Massachusetts this decade, state officials are seeking ways to adapt procurement processes and permitting timelines in response to the changing federal landscape. Massachusetts had previously authorized 5,600 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind procurement, but multiple projects selected through state solicitations have faced severe headwinds, including the cancellation or indefinite delay of projects such as SouthCoast Wind and New England Wind. The Healey administration’s efforts reflect the growing tension between ambitious state offshore wind goals and the federal government’s active efforts to curtail the industry through lease buybacks, permitting freezes, and national security-based project suspensions. More information can be found here.
- Rhode Island CRMC Approves SouthCoast Wind Cable Permit Over Fishing Industry Objections
The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) approved a key permit allowing SouthCoast Wind to lay transmission cables in Rhode Island state waters, over the objections of the fishing industry advisory panel, which voted against a $1 million compensation package offered by the developer. The permit approval represents a small but significant step forward for the long-stalled SouthCoast Wind project, which has faced repeated delays due to federal regulatory uncertainty and broader challenges facing the offshore wind industry. The project, being developed by Ocean Winds (a joint venture of EDP Renewables and ENGIE), would deliver power to Massachusetts but requires cable landings in Rhode Island. The CRMC’s fishing industry panel raised concerns about the adequacy of the compensation package and the potential impacts of cable installation and operation on commercial fishing activities in the area. The approval highlights the ongoing tension between offshore wind infrastructure development and commercial fishing interests, as well as the challenges of designing compensation mechanisms that adequately address fishing community concerns. More information can be found here.
- NYSERDA E-TWG and F-TWG Host 2026 State of the Science Workshop on Offshore Energy, Wildlife, and Fisheries
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), on behalf of the Offshore Wind Environmental Technical Working Group (E-TWG) and the Fisheries Technical Working Group (F-TWG), hosted the 2026 State of the Science Workshop on Offshore Energy, Wildlife, and Fisheries from June 8 through June 11, 2026, at Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York. The theme of the 2026 conference was “Building on a Strong Foundation: Deepening Knowledge and Finding Collaborative Solutions,” reflecting the growing body of research on offshore wind interactions with marine ecosystems and the need for collaborative approaches to address remaining knowledge gaps. The conference brought together scientists, fisheries representatives, offshore wind developers, state and federal agency staff, and non-governmental organizations to share the latest research findings and discuss priority topics, including fisheries monitoring, cumulative impacts, marine spatial planning, and strategies for coexistence between offshore wind and commercial fishing. More information and recordings of conference symposia can be found here.
- New Jersey Ends Offshore Wind Transmission Agreement with PJM
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approved a mutual agreement to terminate the State Agreement Approach (SAA) agreement with PJM Interconnection (PJM), the regional transmission organization, effectively ending the coordinated offshore wind transmission planning framework that had been established to support New Jersey’s offshore wind goals. The termination reflects the significant uncertainty facing New Jersey’s offshore wind sector following the cancellation of multiple projects, including the 2.4-GW Leading Light Wind project, and the broader federal regulatory challenges affecting the industry. The SAA had been a pioneering approach to coordinated offshore transmission planning intended to reduce costs and environmental impacts by enabling shared transmission infrastructure. The BPU’s decision raises questions about how and whether offshore wind transmission will be planned and built in the region going forward. New Jersey had previously established a goal of procuring 11 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040, but the state’s offshore wind portfolio has been substantially diminished by project cancellations and federal obstacles. More information can be found here.
- First Wind Turbine Installed at Sunrise Wind Offshore New York
The first wind turbine was successfully installed at the Sunrise Wind project site offshore New York. The project, which will consist of 84 Siemens Gamesa 8-megawatt (MW) wind turbines once fully constructed, is located approximately 30 miles east of Montauk Point and will provide renewable energy to approximately 600,000 New York homes. The turbine installation marks a significant construction milestone for New York’s second utility-scale offshore wind farm, following the December 2023 completion of the 132-MW South Fork Wind project. Sunrise Wind was one of the five projects affected by the December 22, 2025 BOEM suspension order, and construction activities resumed after a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction. The turbine installation work was carried out by the Wind Scylla, a specialized wind turbine installation vessel operated by Cadeler. The project is expected to connect to the electric grid at the Holbrook Substation in central Long Island upon completion. More information can be found here.
- Green Oceans Leads Federal Lawsuit Challenging Sunrise Wind Project
Green Oceans, a Rhode Island-based organization, along with a coalition of plaintiffs including the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head–Aquinnah, the Narragansett Indian Tribes, commercial fishermen, and coastal stakeholders, filed a new federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the Sunrise Wind offshore wind project. The lawsuit alleges that federal agencies violated environmental and procedural laws in approving the 924-megawatt (MW) project, which is located approximately 30 miles east of Montauk Point, New York. The plaintiffs assert that the project’s environmental review inadequately addressed impacts on marine ecosystems, commercial fishing operations, and tribal resources. Sunrise Wind, a joint venture between Ørsted and Eversource Energy, was approximately 45% complete at the time of the filing and was one of the projects affected by BOEM’s December 22, 2025 suspension order. The lawsuit represents the ongoing legal challenges facing offshore wind development from multiple stakeholder groups, including commercial fishing interests and tribal nations. More information can be found here.
- GAO Report Examines Offshore Wind Vessel Use and U.S. Shipbuilding Investment
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the use of U.S.-flagged and foreign-flagged vessels in offshore wind projects and the extent to which offshore wind development has spurred investment in the U.S. maritime industry. The report, requested by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, found that selected offshore wind projects used a mix of U.S. and foreign vessels, with some U.S. shipbuilding investments occurring in response to project demand. Under the Jones Act, vessels transporting merchandise between points in the United States must be built in the U.S., registered under the U.S. flag, and largely crewed by domestic mariners, a requirement that shapes the vessel fleets available for offshore wind construction and operations. The report assessed characteristics of selected offshore wind vessels, including the Charybdis (the first Jones Act-compliant wind turbine installation vessel) and the ECO Liberty (a U.S.-built service operations vessel), and examined how federal policies affect U.S. shipbuilding investments in the offshore wind sector. The findings are relevant to understanding the maritime infrastructure supporting offshore wind development and the potential economic benefits to domestic shipbuilding and maritime employment. More information can be found here.
- New Study Examines Whether Underwater Construction Noise Affects American Lobster
Researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) published a study examining whether underwater noise from offshore wind farm construction affects the physiology and behavior of the American lobster (Homarus americanus). The research used SoundTraps deployed by commercial lobster fishers through a collaboration with the Rhode Island-based Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF). Lobster fishers placed acoustic recorders inside lobster traps at survey sites at varying distances from the operational South Fork Wind farm and the under-construction Revolution Wind project, collecting over 500 cumulative days of recordings. In parallel, the researchers conducted laboratory experiments using custom-built sensor packages – dubbed “lobster Fitbits” – to measure heart rate and movement responses to vessel noise and simulated pile-driving sounds. The study represents one of the first dedicated efforts to understand how noise pollution from offshore wind construction and operation may impact commercially valuable crustacean species in New England waters. Fishers including Rhode Island lobster boat captain Brian Thibeault and Mark Sweitzer participated directly in data collection, providing local knowledge about gear placement, underwater landscapes, and fishing practices. More information can be found here.
- Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Delivers First Power to the Grid
Electricity from wind turbines standing 27 to 44 miles off Virginia Beach, Virginia, reached the electric grid for the first time on March 23, 2026, marking a major milestone for Dominion Energy’s 2.6-gigawatt (GW) Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind-Commercial (CVOW-C) project. CVOW-C, which consists of 176 Siemens Gamesa 14-megawatt (MW) wind turbines, is the largest offshore wind project under construction in the United States and, once fully operational, will become one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world. The project was one of the five affected by the December 22, 2025 BOEM suspension order, and a federal judge cleared Dominion Energy to resume work earlier in 2026. Turbine installation is being carried out by the Charybdis, the first Jones Act-compliant wind turbine installation vessel, commissioned by Dominion Energy and built at Seatrium’s AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas. The project is expected to finish construction and be fully operational by the end of 2026. More information can be found here.
- Vineyard Wind 1 Construction Completed
Construction is complete on Vineyard Wind 1, the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind project, located approximately 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and southwest of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The 806-megawatt (MW) project, a joint venture of Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, consists of 62 GE Haliade-X turbines and became the first major offshore wind farm to finish construction during the Trump administration. Wind turbine installation commenced in September 2023 and began delivering power to the grid in early 2024. The project experienced a turbulent path to completion, including the July 2024 blade failure incident, the December 22, 2025 BOEM suspension order, and a subsequent legal challenge that resulted in construction resuming. Construction of the project supported approximately 1,400 union jobs. Vineyard Wind 1 represents a cumulative private investment of approximately $4 billion and is expected to generate enough electricity to power roughly 400,000 homes. More information can be found here.
- Revolution Wind Begins Delivering Power to New England
Revolution Wind, a 704-megawatt (MW) offshore wind farm located off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut, began delivering power to the New England electric grid on March 14, 2026. The project, a 50/50 joint venture between Global Infrastructure Partners’ Skyborn Renewables and Ørsted, was built by more than 1,000 local union workers and is expected to power more than 350,000. Revolution Wind received all of its federal permits and was approximately 90% complete at the time it was affected by the December 22, 2025 suspension order issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). A federal judge subsequently ruled in January 2026 that work on the project could resume, allowing the delivery of first power to the grid. The project represents a major milestone for the U.S. offshore wind industry, becoming the second commercial-scale offshore wind farm to deliver power in the United States. More information can be found here.
- BOEM Proposes Amendments to Offshore Financial Assurance Rule
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register proposing amendments to the existing 2024 offshore financial assurance requirements that apply to offshore wind and oil and gas activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The proposed rule seeks to modify how BOEM evaluates the financial strength and risk of companies holding offshore leases and grants, including those for renewable energy projects. Financial assurance requirements are designed to ensure that companies have adequate resources to meet their decommissioning, plugging and abandonment, and other lease obligations, thereby protecting taxpayers from bearing the costs if a company defaults. The proposed amendments could affect the financial obligations and risk calculations for offshore wind developers holding leases along the Atlantic Coast, including in the New York Bight and New England regions. The rulemaking is part of broader BOEM efforts to update its financial risk management framework for OCS activities. More information can be found here.
- Construction Resumes on Sunrise Wind
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction allowing construction of the Sunrise Wind Offshore Wind Project to resume impacted activities while the underlying lawsuit challenging the December 22, 2025 suspension order issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) progresses. Sunrise Wind, a joint venture between Ørsted and Eversource Energy, is a 924-megawatt (MW) offshore wind farm located approximately 30 miles east of Montauk Point, New York. The project was approximately 45% complete at the time of the suspension, with 44 of 84 monopile foundations already installed. The project is designed to provide renewable energy to approximately 600,000 New York homes and will connect to the electric grid at the Holbrook Substation in central Long Island. The preliminary injunction represents the fifth federal court ruling allowing offshore wind projects under construction to resume work following suspension orders issued in December 2025. Sunrise Wind stated it will resume construction work as soon as possible with safety as the top priority. More information can be found here.
- Wind Turbine Installation Begins on Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project
Wind turbine installation on Dominion Energy’s 2.6 gigawatt (GW) Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind-Commercial (CVOW-C) Project has started with the first of the project’s 176 Siemens Gamesa 14 megawatt (MW) wind turbines currently being erected. The work is being carried out by the wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) Charybdis, the first Jones Act-compliant WTIV, commissioned by Dominion Energy and built at Seatrium’s AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, Texas. With 176 Siemens Gamesa 14 MW wind turbines and an installed capacity of 2.6 GW, once operational, CVOW-C will become the biggest US offshore wind farm and one of the biggest in the world. More information can be found here.
- Construction to Restart Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project
A federal judge cleared U.S. power company Dominion Energy to resume work on its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, one of the five offshore wind projects affected by the December 22 stop work order issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The decision permits work to restart while Dominion Energy’s lawsuit challenging the federal agency’s suspension continues. CVOW stretches approximately 27 to 44 miles off Virginia Beach, Virginia and is expected to finish construction and start delivering electricity to the grid later this year. More information can be found here.
- Construction to Restart on Empire Wind
A federal judge ruled that construction on the Empire Wind project could resume following the December 22 order issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which paused construction for at least 90 days on five major offshore wind projects (Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, Empire Wind and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind-commercial). The judge cited that the federal government did not respond to key points in Empire Wind’s court findings, including the contention that the administration violated procedure. Empire Wind, which is being developed by Equinor’s U.S. based subsidiary, is located south of Long Island, New York and is approximately 60% complete. More information can be found here.
- Revolution Wind to Resume Construction
A federal judge ruled that work on the Revolution Wind offshore wind project can resume following the December 22 stop work order issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which paused construction for at least 90 days on five major offshore wind projects (Vineyard Wind 1, Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, Empire Wind and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind-commercial) projects while the federal government reviews national security concerns raised in a classified report the Department of War provided to the agency in November. Revolution Wind, which is being developed by Orsted, has received all of its federal permits and is nearly 90% complete to provide power for Rhode Island and Connecticut. More information can be found here.
- Vineyard Wind 1 Sues to Resume Construction
Vineyard Wind is challenging the December 22 order issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which paused construction for at least 90 days on five major offshore wind projects while the federal government reviews unspecified national security concerns. Vineyard Wind 1, a joint project of Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, is located approximately 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and southwest of Nantucket. The project has been under construction since late 2022 and is approximately 97% complete. Vineyard Wind is first asking for a temporary restraining order, which is a short-term emergency measure that would immediately allow construction to resume while the injunction is considered. More information can be found here.
- Five East Coast Offshore Wind Projects Receive Temporary Suspension Orders
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued 90-day suspension orders for five offshore wind projects under construction along the East Coast: Vineyard Wind 1 (Massachusetts), Revolution Wind (Rhode Island/Connecticut), Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind (New York), and Empire Wind 1 (New York). The suspensions, affecting approximately $28 billion in total investment, were based on cited national security concerns related to radar interference with military systems, as detailed in classified Department of Defense reports. The affected projects were at various stages of completion, with Revolution Wind approximately 87% complete and Empire Wind over 60% complete at the time of the suspension. Developers and state officials from affected states have challenged the suspension orders, with legal proceedings initiated in federal courts. More information can be found here.
- House Passes Permitting Reform Legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776) with a 221-196 vote. The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Representatives Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Jared Golden (D-ME), aims to reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by establishing streamlined timelines and procedures for federal permitting of energy infrastructure projects, including offshore wind developments. The bill addresses permitting processes but does not include provisions for electric transmission infrastructure expansion. Senate consideration of the legislation was halted in December 2025 following the suspension of multiple offshore wind projects, with Senate Democrats indicating they would require resolution of ongoing administrative actions affecting renewable energy projects before advancing permitting reform. More information can be found here.
- Maryland Issues Offshore Wind Power Procurement Invitation
The Maryland Department of General Services and Office of State Procurement released an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for offshore wind power, seeking developers who can enter into 20-year power purchase agreements to deliver electricity from offshore wind projects. The procurement represents Maryland’s second offshore wind solicitation, following legislative requirements under House Bill 1296 that mandated the state issue an offshore wind procurement by December 31, 2025. The IFB requires bid submissions by January 16, 2026, with a pre-bid conference held on December 17, 2025. The procurement aims to advance Maryland’s goal of procuring 8.5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2031. Potential respondents include US Wind, Dominion Energy, Equinor, and Ørsted, all of which hold federal leases in waters offshore Maryland. More information can be found here.
- Research on Fishing Industry Engagement Importance Published in ICES Journal
A research paper on the importance of engagement with fisheries, aquaculture, and fishing communities in offshore wind development was published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science. The paper addresses offshore wind energy and the fishing industry in the northeastern United States, emphasizing the critical role of meaningful stakeholder engagement in planning processes. The research highlights best practices for communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution between offshore wind developers and fishing communities, drawing on case studies from the region. The publication emphasizes that successful coexistence between offshore wind and fishing industries requires early, sustained, and meaningful engagement with all affected stakeholders. More information can be found here.
June 24, 2022
On June 24, 2022, BOEM published a Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Ocean Wind 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Ocean Wind, LLC’s Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore New Jersey. The NOA initiates a 45-day public comment period that ends August 8th, 2022 at 11:59 pm. For more information regarding the virtual public hearing and the dates it will be held, refer here.
Reducing or Avoiding Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy on Fisheries
June 24, 2022
In July, BOEM will hold four public meetings in consultation with NFMS and affected coastal states to discuss draft guidance for ways to mitigate impacts from offshore wind projects on commercial and recreational fisheries and fishing. Dates and meeting information can be found here.
June 23, 2022
BOEM has standardized its process for identifying alternatives in its draft Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for all Offshore Wind Construction and Operations Plans (COPs) received from lessees. More information on BOEM’s standardization process for the finalized document can be found here. The finalized document can be found on BOEM’s website here.