On August 18th, the Department of the Interior announced two significant milestones in its efforts to advance offshore wind planning and leasing in the Gulf of Maine:
- Request for Interest (RFI) – first step in the commercial leasing process for the Gulf of Maine
- Request for Competitive Interest (RFCI) – Response to State of Maine research application
The publication of these Federal Register notices on August 19, 2022, initiated two separate 45-day comment periods that will close on Monday, October 3, 2022. View the notices for instructions for how to provide nominations and/or submit comments.
Users can now view both the RFI area and the RFCI area in the Energy and Infrastructure Planning Areas theme map and in the Data Explorer under Energy and Infrastructure – Planning Areas. In the Data Explorer, the new layers can be overlaid with any other layers related to ocean uses and resources, including vessel traffic, marine life, and commercial fishing activity.
Screenshot of Energy and Infrastructure Planning Areas theme map showing the RFI and RFCI areas along with other planning areas.
