Archived Announcements

• Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA) launched. April 11, 2019

  ROSA was launched to address needs for collaborative, regional research and monitoring of fisheries and offshore wind. The alliance will bring together representatives of the maritime trades, offshore wind developers, National Marine Fisheries Service and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. To view the ROSA framework click here.

• Vineyard Wind to Implement UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology Fisheries’ Monitoring Studies. April 5, 2019

  Vineyard Wind announced that it will implement recommendations from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) to guide the project’s fisheries monitoring studies during construction, as well as to initiate longer-term studies as part of a regional approach to fisheries studies. SMAST’s recommendations were based on its expertise as a leading fisheries research center as well input from active fishermen, government agencies, and academia. The full report for the SMAST outreach used to develop monitoring plans is available here.

• NOAA, BOEM, Fishing Industry Sign New Memorandum of Understanding. March 26, 2019

  NOAA Fisheries, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding that brings local and regional fishing interests together with federal regulators to collaborate on the science and process of offshore wind energy development on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.

• Amended Agreement to Stay Six Month Review Period between Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and Vineyard Wind February 11, 2019

  On February 11, 2019, the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and Vineyard Wind agreed to an additional amended stay on the six-month review period for Vineyard Wind’s federal consistency certification, which was originally filed on April 6, 2018. The CRMC consistency determination decision date has been further extended to March 1, 2019 to provide Vineyard Wind with additional time to negotiate with the CRMC’s Fishermen’s Advisory Board (FAB).

• Revolution Wind Contract Filed with State Regulators. February 7, 2019

  Revolution Wind offshore wind farm filed a contract with the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on February 7, 2019. The contract between National Grid and Ørsted US Offshore Wind supports development of a 400 MW wind farm located in federal waters offshore Rhode Island. Depending on the permitting process, construction could begin as early as 2020 with potential operation by 2023. Public materials submitted as part of the proceeding are accessible on the Rhode Island PUC docket.

• Massachusetts Secretary of Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Certified Final Environmental Impact Report. February 5, 2019

  The decision finalized the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review process for Vineyard Wind’s proposed 800 MW offshore wind generation and transmission project. The project will now proceed with state, regional, and local permitting.

• NYSERDA, NYSDEC, and RODA are seeking information on commercial fishing transit routes in the New York Bight January 30, 2019

  NYSERDA, NYSDEC, and RODA are gathering feedback related to fishing transit throughout the New York Bight. This information gathering, which includes a review of existing data and a fishermen survey, will culminate in a transit workshop scheduled for March 27, 2018 at Danfords Hotel, Marina, and Spa in Port Jefferson, New York. The goal of the workshop is to present information collected on New York Bight transit routes to participants, to gather feedback, and ultimately develop a Workshop Report that provides a clearer understanding of where transit lanes would provide the greatest value prior to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s delineation of new offshore wind lease areas in the New York Bight. To register for the workshop click here .

• Vineyard Wind and Conservation Groups Reached Historic Agreement to Protect Right Whales. January 22, 2019

  On January 22, 2019 Vineyard Wind and the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Wildlife Federation, and Conservation Law Foundation entered into an unprecedented agreement to protect North Atlantic right whales. Vineyard Wind has committed to a variety of protective measures to ensure the safety of right whales while installing and operating turbines at its proposed project offshore Massachusetts. Some mitigation and monitoring measures include:turbine construction curtailment in the winter and early spring when right whales may be in the area;
  monitoring during project construction to detect the presence of whales in the area;
  reduced construction noise so as not to disturb the whales’ communication and navigation;
  vessel speed limits; and
  deployment of innovative technologies to conduct scientific research and further safeguard marine mammals.

• Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) issues a data request to Deepwater Wind Regarding Federal Consistency Review for South Fork Wind Farm. January 16, 2019

  Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) issues a data request to Deepwater Wind Regarding Federal Consistency Review for South Fork Wind Farm. CRMC sent notified Deepwater Wind on January 16, 2019 of the Coastal Zone Management Act consistency review status for South Fork Wind Farm. CRMC requested supplemental data and information. Currently, CRMC’s review period is scheduled to end on April 22, 2019.

• New York Announces 9 GW Offshore Wind Target. January 15, 2019

  In the 2019 State of the State, Governor Cuomo proposed expanding New York State’s offshore wind target to 9,000 MW by 2035. Governor Cuomo is directing three new actions to progress offshore wind: port infrastructure, workforce development, and transmission infrastructure.

• Connecticut Regulators Approve Power-Purchase Agreement for Revolution Wind. December 20, 2018

  Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approved Orsted’s 20-year power-purchase agreement with Eversource and United Illuminating for the 200 MW Revolution Wind project.

• On December 20, 2018, NYSERDA announced the five major developers who submitted notices of intent to propose for ORECRFP18-1. December 20, 2018

  ORECRFP18-1 is New York State’s first large-scale offshore wind solicitation to competitively procure 800 MW or more of offshore wind renewable energy certificates (ORECs). The five developers that intend to propose include Atlantic Shore Offshore Wind, Bay State Wind, Equinor Wind, Mayflower Wind Energy, and Vineyard Wind.

• EDF Renewables and Shell Announce Joint Venture. December 19, 2018

  EDF Renewables North America and Shell New Energies US LLC announced that they have formed Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC, a 50/50 joint venture to develop the OCS-0499 lease area offshore New Jersey.

• NOAA Grants Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) Additional Jurisdiction for Offshore Wind Energy Projects. December 18, 2018

  In September 2018, CRMC requested that NOAA expand the Geographic Location Description (GLD) boundaries as established in CRMC’s Ocean Special Area Management Plan (Ocean SAMP). NOAA granted CRMC’s request for additional federal consistency oversight regarding offshore wind development projects in December 2018.

• Final Environmental Impact Report Submitted to Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. December 17, 2018

  Vineyard Wind submitted a Final Environmental Impact Report to the Massachusetts Executive Offshore of Energy and Environmental Affairs as part of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review process. Public comments are being accepted until January 25, 2019.

• Massachusetts action for offshore wind leases has concluded. December 15, 2018

  BOEM announced the results of the Atlantic Wind Lease Sale for three lease areas on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore Massachusetts. Equinor Wind, Vineyard Wind, and Mayflower Wind Energy were the successful bidders in the auction.

• NYSERDA has posted responses to written questions regarding the request for proposals (RFP), ORECRFP18-1, for offshore wind energy. December 13, 2018

  Bids are due on February 14, 2019 and awards are expected in Spring 2019.

• Vineyard Wind Draft Environment Impact Statement (DEIS) released for public comment. December 7, 2018

  BOEM has published a Notice of Availability for the DEIS for the Vineyard with Construction and Operations Plan (COP). The 45-day public comment period closes on January 22, 2019. Public meetings will be held throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island in January 2019.

• Deepwater Wind requests comments on SFWF Draft Demersal Fisheries Resources Survey Protocol December 3, 2018

  Deepwater Wind has released their SFWF Draft Demersal Fisheries Resources Survey Protocol for review. Please email any comments to Melanie Gearon at Deepwater by December 14, 2018. Full details are in the document linked above.

• The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has released draft Wind Energy Areas for the New York Bight. November 14, 2018