The federal government is moving forward with plans to sell offshore wind power plots in the Gulf of Maine after determining that the leasing process would not harm the environment. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management found that assessing leases across one million acres of ocean would not have a significant environmental impact. The next step will involve separate environmental reviews for the installation of offshore turbines.
The agency is considering selling eight lease areas off the coasts of Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire by the end of the year, with the potential to power 5 million homes. The director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Elizabeth Klein, emphasized the commitment to developing wind power in a way that minimizes impacts on ocean activities and the surrounding ecosystem.
Maine has already leased a small parcel in the Gulf of Maine to test floating wind turbines, showing progress in the development of offshore wind energy in the region. This move towards selling offshore wind power plots signifies a significant step towards renewable energy goals and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The partnership with Maine Public provided this information, highlighting the importance of offshore wind power development in the Gulf of Maine and the potential benefits it could bring to the region.
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