In October, New York State submitted an Area for Consideration for offshore wind energy development to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The State requested that within the Area for Consideration BOEM identify and lease at least four new Wind Energy Areas, each capable of supporting at least 800 megawatts of energy production. Based on fieldwork, data analysis, and stakeholder outreach, the State had determined that the Area for Consideration was the most appropriate location for future offshore wind development.
The Area for Consideration can now be viewed on the Northeast Ocean Data Portal’s Energy and Infrastructure theme map and on the Data Explorer map. On the latter, the Area for Consideration can be viewed in combination with mapping data on whales and other marine life, commercial vessel traffic, fishing activity, and many additional ocean uses and environmental characteristics.
The Area for Consideration proposal is the result of work undertaken by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), New York Department of State, and New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The Area for Consideration was refined through a comprehensive process based on available data and guided by stakeholder feedback, aiming to maximize benefits and minimize conflicts to ocean users, including both people and wildlife, and it was developed following interagency deliberation within New York State. It consists of two separate sections: an East zone located some 30 miles off Long Island and a West zone that begins approximately 25 miles outside Manasquan Inlet, New Jersey.
No state or federal agency or entity has committed to any specific course of action with respect to the development of future wind projects in the Area of Consideration. In the event that BOEM identifies a new WEA and awards a lease in the future, any offshore wind project in that new WEA will be required to meet all state and federal permit, license, and other approvals prior to proceeding with the development of the project.
Visit the NYSERDA website for more information, including a report on the Area for Consideration, a fact sheet, and other downloadable files.
