BOEMRE/MA Offshore Wind RFI
Information on this project is provided for reference. It is not currently part of a formal CMSP process, but touches on related issues in the area.
On December 28, 2010, the US Department of Interior’s Bureau of Offshore Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) issued a Request for Interest (RFI) to gauge the offshore wind industry’s interest in developing renewable energy projects within a 3,000 (2,224 nautical) square mile expanse of federal waters off the southeast coast of Massachusetts (see map). The MA Renewable Energy Task Force – an interagency group of federal, state, tribal, and local officials – partnered with BOEMRE to delineate the boundaries of the RFI area, based on available information indicating wind resources and water depths suitable for wind power development. This RFI was issued under the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Wind Initiative, part of the “Smart from the Start” program announced by Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar on November 23, 2010.
The BOEMRE RFI requires specific information from parties interested in pursuing a commercial lease for a wind energy project, and invites additional comment and information from other interested and affected parties.
Along with the federal RFI, MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs issued a supplement—Goals for Offshore Renewable Energy and Request for Additional Information (PDF,221 KB)—which broadens the scope of the federal government’s RFI by asking industries to think broadly about the build-out of wind energy facilities in the RFI area including factors such as system design, engineering, construction, ownership, transmission, and electric grid configuration. EEA is also soliciting from RFI respondents their thoughts and expertise regarding locations for assembly of wind turbines, the supply chain needed by a new off-shore wind industry, and maintenance operations.
Responses to both the Federal and State solicitations were due February 28, 2011.
News
04/19/2011 Boston.com, Cape Wind wins federal construction plan approval
04/03/11 Boston.com, Fishermen wary as feds seek offshore wind interest
12/29/10 North American Windpower, BOEMRE Issues RFI For Massachusetts
12/28/10 POINT, Massachusetts Request for Interest (RFI) Map and BOEMRE press release
12/30/10 BrighterEnergy.org, Wind Developers Sought for Massachusetts Offshore Wind Farms