Feds Seek Public Input on Beacon Wind Offshore Project
WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is seeking public comment on its draft environmental analysis for the Beacon Wind offshore wind power project located near Massachusetts.
On Friday, Feb. 2, the bureau will publish a notice in the Federal Register on its draft environmental assessment for the Beacon Wind project, opening a 30-day public comment period that ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on March 4.
Beacon Wind is proposing to develop Lease Area OCS-A 0520, located offshore approximately 20 miles southwest of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and 60 miles of Montauk Point, Long Island.
When complete, Beacon Wind is projected to provide 1,230 MW of reliable, renewable offshore wind power for households in the Northeast United States.
The Draft EA analyzes the potential environmental impacts of proposed site assessment activities, which consist of 35 deployments and removals of a single suction bucket foundation at 26 locations within the lease area to gather information to support the engineering design of wind turbine and offshore substation foundations that would potentially be installed within the lease area for a future Beacon Wind project.
On Nov. 7, 2023, BOEM published a “Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Additional Site Assessment Activities on Beacon Wind, LLC’s Renewable Energy Lease OCS-A 0520.” The amended SAP and draft EA can be found on BOEM’s webpage.
Virtual Public Meetings
Two virtual public meetings are proposed during the 30-day comment period for the draft EA. All times are EST:
- Friday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 5 p.m.
How to Submit Comments
- Go to the Regulations.gov web portal and search for Docket No. BOEM-2024-0006 to submit public comments and view supporting and related materials available for this notice. Click on the “Comment” button below the document link. Enter your information and comment, then click “Submit Comment.”
- By U.S. Postal Service or other delivery service: Send your comments and information to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Rd., Mail Stop VAM-OREP, Sterling, VA 20166.
BOEM seeks comments on important resources and issues, impact-producing factors and potential mitigating measures analyzed in the draft EA.
The public comments will help inform BOEM’s decision on whether to approve the site assessment plan amendment. Following the comment period, BOEM will review the comments received to include information for consideration in the Beacon Wind Final EA.
Dan can be reached at [email protected] and @DanMcCue
