Massachusetts Energy and Environment Affairs (EEA) Hosts Federal Officials for Public Meetings on Offshore Wind Development Process.
What the meeting will cover:
Officials from EEA will host officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) and the U.S. Coast Guard at a public information session to discuss the BOEMRE–MA Request for Interest (RFI) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Massachusetts.
The RFI, issued on December 29, 2010, is the first step in the multi-year federal leasing process for offshore wind energy development in approximately 3,000 square miles of federal waters off the Massachusetts coast. The meetings are designed to provide public officials, the fishing industry, local residents and others with information on the RFI process to date and outline next steps. The sessions will include presentations from EEA, BOEMRE, and representatives from the U. S. Coast Guard, followed by question and answer sessions. Public comments can also be submitted to BOEMRE until February 28, 2011.