atlantic renewable energy program leasing process · 3/5/2020  · alaska ocs pacific ocs gulf of...

Atlantic Renewable Energy Program Leasing ProcessAtlantic Renewable Energy Program Leasing Process

Maine Fishermen’s Forum – Wind Seminar

March 5, 2020

Maine Fishermen’s Forum – Wind Seminar

March 5, 2020

BOEM Office of Renewable Energy Programs

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Energy

2

OCS Lands Act: "… vital national resource … expeditious and orderly development … environmental safeguards"

Energy Policy Act of 2005: "… energy from sources other than oil and gas …"

Alaska OCS Atlantic OCSGulf of Mexico OCSPacific OCS

Renewable Energy Program by the Numbers

3

Competitive Lease Sales Completed: 8

Active Offshore Leases Issued: 15

Site Assessment Plans (SAPs) Approved: 8

General Activities Plans Approved: 1

Construction and Operations Plans (COPs):

• Under Review 6

• Anticipated in Coming Year 4 -6

Guidance: 10

Leasing Under Consideration: 5

Steel in the Water: 2020

4

History of Federal Offshore Renewable Leasing in the Gulf of Maine

• Hywind Maine

o Pilot project proposed by Statoil NA

(now Equinor)

o Unsolicited lease request received in

October 2012

o Pilot project would have consisted

of 4 floating wind turbines

o Statoil withdrew the application in

November 2013

5

Gulf of Maine Regional Task Force - 2020

• New Hampshire Governor Sununu

requested Task Force January 2019

• December 12, 2019 in New Hampshire

• Summary of meeting themes

(not consensus):

o Importance of moving quickly

o Concerns about impact on fishing

o Coordinate participation amongst

stakeholders

6

www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-

activities/gulf-maine-intergovernmental-

renewable-energy-task-force-meeting

OCS Renewable Energy Authorization Process

Intergovernmental Task

Force

Call for Information &

Nominations (Call)

Area Identification

Environmental Reviews

Proposed Sale Notice (PSN)

Final Sale Notice (FSN)

Auction

Issue Lease(s)

Site Characterization

(i.e. Geophysical &

Geological Surveys,

Biological Surveys, etc.)

Site Assessment Plan (SAP)

(i.e. Meteorological buoy

or tower)

Construction & Operations

Plan (COP)

Facility Design Report (FDR)

Fabrication and Installation

Report (FIR)

Decommissioning

Planning

& AnalysisLeasing Site Assessment

Construction

& Operations

2 Years 1-2 Years 5 Years 2 Years (+25)

7

Renewable Energy Process: From RFI/Call to Operation

8

Request for Interest to Lease Sale

9

Planning Area

10

• High-level screening

• Initial identification of

areas that may be suitable

for potential offshore

wind development

Planning Area

Optional Required

Request for Interest (RFI) Area

11

• Collect information to

determine the level of interest

in offshore wind leasing

• Shed more light on suitability

of area for wind development

Planning Area

RFI Area

Optional Required

Call for Information and Nominations - Area

12

• Request comments on:

• Areas for special consideration and analysis

• Conditions in the Call Area

• Areas to be considered for leasing

Planning Area

RFI Area

Call Area

Optional Required

Wind Energy Area

13

• A portion of the Outer

Continental Shelf (OCS)

identified by BOEM

for NEPA analysis

(Environmental Assessment)

• The basis for a Lease Area

Wind Energy Area

Planning Area

RFI Area

Call Area

Wind Energy Area

Optional Required

Lease Areas

14

• Wind Energy Areas have

the potential for further

division into Lease Areas

Planning Area

RFI Area

Call Area

Wind Energy Area

Optional Required

Lease Area

Lease Area

Lease

Area

How is Input Collected?

Comment Periods & Meetings

Comment Periods

& Meetings

Consultations

15

NMFS Roles in the Offshore Wind Permitting Process

• NMFS is involved in the offshore wind permitting process in the following ways:

o Participating in state and regional offshore wind energy task forces

o Providing environmental information to BOEM through BOEM-funded studies and/or

independent research

o Cooperating Agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and One

Federal Decision

o Statutory federal consultations under the Endangered Species Act and Magnuson-

Stevens Act (Essential Fish Habitat)

o Compliance under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (consultation between lessee

and NMFS)

16

Environmental Studies Program

• BOEM just concluded solicitation for

2021 study ideas

• Study ideas are reviewed by the

Standing Committee on Offshore Science

and Assessment (COSA) convened under

the National Academy of Sciences

• Results of studies are incorporated into

BOEM environmental assessment and

decision-making process

BOEM.govBOEM.gov

Brian Hooker | brian.hooker@boem.gov | 703-787-1634

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

U.S. Department of the Interior

18