BOEM received 32 comments and ten nominations of interest in response.Īfter considering the comments submitted in response to the Call, BOEM decided to exclude certain areas identified as important habitats that could be adversely affected if ultimately developed with the installation of wind turbine generators. The comment period for the Call closed on March 22, 2012. Map Showing the Massachusetts Call for Information and Nominations Area with a NOAA Nautical Chart Background.Map Showing the Massachusetts Call for Information and Nominations Area.Click on the links below to view maps of the Call area. It contains 826,241 acres and contains 132 whole OCS lease blocks as well as 19 partial blocks. The Call Area was located off the coast of Massachusetts beginning approximately 12 nautical miles south of Martha's Vineyard and 13 nautical miles southwest of Nantucket.

BOEM also published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment of the Call Area. 6, 2012 to identify locations within the offshore Call Area in which there was industry interest to seek commercial leases for developing wind projects. After careful consideration of the public comments, as well as input from BOEM's intergovernmental Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Force, BOEM modified the planning area offshore Massachusetts and proceeded to publish a Call for Information and Nominations ('Call') in the Federal Register on Feb. BOEM also received about 260 public comments in response to the RFI, which are available on. The company names and the OCS blocks they nominated can be viewed by clicking here. The comment period ended on April 18, 2011.īOEM received eleven indications of interest from ten companies wishing to obtain a commercial lease for a wind energy project. Responding to requests received from the public and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, BOEM reopened the comment period for the RFI on March 17, 2011. The subsequent selection of a Wind Energy Area (WEA) was based on input received on this RFI area.

The Massachusetts RFI area was delineated based on deliberation and consultation with the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Force. BOEM also invited the public to comment and provide information-including information on environmental issues and data-for consideration of the RFI area for commercial wind energy leases. 29, 2010, BOEM published a Request for Interest (RFI) in the Federal Register to gauge commercial interest in wind energy development offshore Massachusetts. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act requires BOEM to award leases for renewable energy projects competitively, unless BOEM determines there is no competitive interest.

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