Efforts Underway
There are several renewable energy efforts underway offshore Massachusetts.
- Gulf of Maine Offshore Wind Energy Planning
- Commercial Wind Leases Offshore Massachusetts
- Beacon Wind LLC (OCS-A 0520)
- Bay State Wind (OCS-A 0500)
- Vineyard Wind (OCS-A 0501)
- SouthCoast Wind Energy LLC (OCS-A-0521)
- New England Wind (OCS-A 0534)(formerly Vineyard Wind South)
- Commercial Wind Leases Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts
- South Fork (OCS-A 0517)
- Revolution Wind (OCS-A 0486)
- Sunrise Wind (OCS-A 0487)
- Commercial Leases OCS-A 0520, 0521, and 0522
Public Engagement
BOEM coordinates Outer Continental Shelf renewable energy activities offshore Massachusetts with its federal, state, local, and tribal government partners through its Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force. BOEM also coordinates public information meetings to help keep interested stakeholders updated on major renewable energy milestones. To obtain information discussed during these meetings click on the links below.
Related Press Releases
- Biden-Harris Administration Approves Eleventh Offshore Wind Project in U.S. History (12/20/2024)
- BOEM Completes Environmental Review for Proposed Wind Energy Project Offshore Massachusetts and Rhode Island (11/08/2024)
- BOEM Approves Construction and Operations Plan for New England Wind’s Offshore Wind Projects (07/01/2024)
- Biden-Harris Administration Approves Eighth Offshore Wind Project (04/02/2024)
- Biden-Harris Administration Approves Seventh Offshore Wind Project (03/26/2024)
- BOEM Completes Environmental Analysis for Proposed Wind Project Offshore Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York (02/26/2024)
- BOEM Seeks Input on Draft Environmental Analysis for Additional Site Assessment Activities on Proposed Wind Energy Project Offshore Massachusetts (02/01/2024)
- BOEM Seeks Input to Inform Environmental Analysis for Additional Site Assessment Activities on Proposed Wind Energy Project Offshore Massachusetts (11/06/2023)
- BOEM Releases Draft Wind Energy Area in the Gulf of Maine for Public Review and Comment (10/19/2023)
- BOEM Seeks Comment on Draft Environmental Analysis for Proposed Wind Energy Project Offshore Massachusetts (02/13/2023)
- BOEM Seeks Comment to Inform Environmental Review of Proposed Wind Energy Project Offshore Massachusetts (12/19/2022)
- BOEM Advances Review for Two Proposed Wind Projects Off Atlantic Coast (12/12/2022)
- BOEM Seeks Public Comment on Draft Environmental Analysis for Proposed Wind Energy Project Offshore Rhode Island (8/29/2022)
- Biden-Harris Administration Continues Offshore Wind Momentum, Announces Next Steps for Gulf of Maine (8/18/2022)
- Interior Department Approves Second Major Offshore Wind Project in U.S. Federal Waters (11/24/2021)
- Interior Department Takes Action to Advance Offshore Wind in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (10/28/2021)
- BOEM Announces Environmental Review of Wind Energy Project Proposed for Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts (06/28/2021)
- Biden-Harris Administration Approves First Major Offshore Wind Project in U.S. Waters (05/11/2021)
- BOEM Announces Environmental Review of Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts (04/29/2021)
- BIDDING BONANZA! Trump Administration Smashes Record for Offshore Wind Auction with $405 Million in Winning Bids (12/14/2018)
- BOEM Announces Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore Massachusetts (11/30/2018)
- Trump Administration Delivers Historic Progress on Offshore Wind (10/18/2018)
- Trump Administration Proposes Sale for Wind Energy Off Massachusetts Coast (04/06/2018)
- BOEM and MassCEC Release Marine Wildlife Survey Results to Guide Offshore Wind Development (10/25/2016)
- Interior Department Leases Area Offshore Massachusetts for Wind Energy Development(1/29/2015)
- Interior to Auction More Than 742,000 Acres Offshore Massachusetts for Wind Energy Development (11/24/2014)
- Secretary Jewell, Governor Patrick Announced the Nation's Largest Offshore Wind Energy Area Available for Commercial Development (6/17/2014)
- Interior Holds First-Ever Competitive Lease Sale for Renewable Energy in Federal Waters(7/31/2013)
- BOEM Identifies Wind Energy Area Offshore Massachusetts for Potential Commercial Leasing (5/30/2012)
- Obama Administration Initiates Leasing Process for Commercial Wind Development Offshore Massachusetts (2/3/2012)
- BOEMRE Initiates Leasing Process for Commercial Wind Development Offshore Massachusetts (12/28/2010)
- Salazar Launches 'Smart from the Start' Initiative to Speed Offshore Wind Energy Development off the Atlantic Coast (11/23/2010)
On December 29, 2010, BOEM issued a Request for Interest (RFI) in the Federal Register to assess whether there were parties interested in developing commercial wind facilities off the coast of Massachusetts. This area was delineated in consultation with the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Force. Based on the responses received to the RFI, BOEM determined there to be competitive interest in the location identified and continued with the competitive leasing process.
On February 6, 2012, BOEM published a Call for Information and Nominations (Call) to seek additional nominations from entities interested in commercial wind energy leases within the Call Area offshore Massachusetts. BOEM sought public input on the potential for wind development in the Call Area, including comments on site conditions, resources, and existing uses of the area that would be relevant to BOEM’s wind energy development authorization process.
On May 30, 2012, BOEM designated a Wind Energy Area (WEA), consisting of 132 OCS blocks and 19 sub-blocks, approximately 12 nm south of Martha's Vineyard and 13 nm southwest of Nantucket. BOEM received several comments as a result of the WEA designation, and decided to exclude certain areas identified as important habitats that could be adversely affected if ultimately developed with the installation of wind turbine generators. Specifically, BOEM excluded an area of high sea duck concentration, as well as an area of high value fisheries to reduce conflict with commercial and recreational fishing activities.
On June 18, 2014, BOEM published a Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) for an area located offshore Massachusetts. On November 26, 2014, BOEM announced the publication of the Final Sale Notice (FSN) for a lease sale offshore Massachusetts and the availability of a revised EA for site assessment and site characterization activities in the area. The WEA was auctioned as four leases (OCS-A 0500, OCS-A 0501, OCS-A 0502, OCS-A 0503).
On January 29, 2015, BOEM held a competitive lease sale pursuant to 30 C.F.R. § 585.211 for certain lease areas within the Massachusetts WEA. The auction lasted two rounds. RES America Developments, Inc. was identified as the winner of Lease Area OCS-A 0500 and Offshore MW LLC was identified as the winner of Lease Area OCS-A 0501. Lease Areas OCS-A 0502 and OCS-A 0503 went unsold during the lease sale. Lease Area OCS-A 0501 was subsequently segregated twice.
On April 11, 2018, BOEM published a Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) for portions of the Massachusetts WEA that that were unsold on January 29, 2015 (Lease Areas OCS-A 0502 and OCS-A 0503). On October 19, 2018, BOEM announced the publication of the Final Sale Notice (FSN) for a lease sale offshore Massachusetts. The WEA was auctioned as three leases (OCS-A 0520, OCS-A 0521, OCS-A 0522).
On December 13-14, 2018, BOEM held a competitive lease sale (i.e., auction) for Wind Energy Areas offshore Massachusetts. The auction lasted 32 rounds. Equinor Wind US, LLC was identified as the winner of Lease Area OCS-A 0520, Mayflower Wind Energy, LLC was identified as the winner of Lease Area OCS-A 0521, and Vineyard Wind, LLC was identified as the winner of Lease Area OCS-A 0522.
On May 15, 2024, the New England Wind project was segregated into two leases, New England Wind 1 (OCS-A 0534) and New England Wind 2 (OCS-A 0561). The northern portion of the original lease was retained by Park City Wind, LLC for the New England Wind 1 Project, formerly Phase 1, and retains the original lease number given by BOEM. The southern portion of the original lease was assigned to Commonwealth Wind, LLC. and is now referred to as the New England Wind 2 project, formerly Phase 2.
Environmental Studies
BOEM has funded or considered numerous studies to collect information about the marine environment to support decisions concerning offshore renewable energy development. For more information, please visit: http://www.boem.gov/Massachusetts-Environmental-Studies.
Visual Simulations
In response to stakeholder interest regarding visual impacts from potential future renewable energy development within the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Wind Energy Areas, BOEM undertook a project to develop daytime and nighttime photomontages and 24 hour day-through-night videos to simulate what turbines might look like if these six lease areas were fully developed.