Bureau of Ocean Energy Management officials are asking for feedback on possible commercial wind energy development in areas totaling 13.47 million acres off the coasts of North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, or Central Atlantic 2.
BOEM announced Wednesday that it will publish in the Federal Register on Thursday a call for information and nominations for a second regional offshore wind energy sale in the Central Atlantic 2, one of the first steps in the leasing process. Publishing the call will initiate a 60-day public comment period that ends 11:59 p.m. Oct. 21. Information on how to comment is to be posted Thursday at regulations.gov. Search for BOEM-2024-0040.
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The Central Atlantic 2 Call Area “is broad to allow for flexibility to minimize conflicts with other uses, such as commercial fisheries, military activities, and vessel traffic,” according to the federal agency.
This announcement builds on the input and planning that led to the first Central Atlantic lease sale on Aug. 14, the fifth offshore wind lease sale held during the Biden-Harris administration, according to BOEM.
BOEM will host open houses throughout the region, including one 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City, and from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at Tidewater Community College’s Virginia Beach Campus Student Center, 1700 College Crescent, Virginia Beach.
To register online for either open house, visit https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/central-atlantic-2-public-meetings. The public will be able to submit written comments during the open houses. There will not be formal comment period.
A virtual Zoom meeting is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 2. Register online.
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“Today’s announcement kicks off the process for a second potential auction in the Central Atlantic and provides an important avenue to solicit information as we identify potential areas that may be suitable for future offshore wind energy leasing,” BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein said Wednesday in a statement. “BOEM looks forward to building upon years of working with ocean users, Tribal governments, and local, state, and federal agencies as we drive toward achieving the ambitious goals of the Biden-Harris administration to fight climate change and create good-paying jobs.”
Officials said they will collaborate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science to help identify where conflicts may exist and inform decisions regarding the most appropriate locations for wind energy areas. After completing environmental reviews of the potential areas in consultation with the appropriate federal agencies, Tribes, state and local governments, and key stakeholders, BOEM may propose a competitive lease sale.
