“Offshore wind has the potential to help our nation combat climate change, improve resilience through reliable power, and spur economic development to create good-paying jobs” said recently appointed BOEM Director Amanda Lefton. “BOEM is committed to conducting a robust and timely review of the proposed project.”
Lefton, who was a NY State environmental official, was appointed by President Joe Biden. She does not need to be confirmed by the US Senate. Lefton has served as first secretary for energy and the environment for NY governor Andrew Cuomo since January 2019. Before that, she was deputy policy director for seven years at the New York chapter of the Nature Conservancy, a leading national environmental group.
BOEM will resume the environmental review of the Vineyard Wind Project and proceed with development of a Final Environmental Impact Statement.
On January 22, 2021, Vineyard Wind submitted a letter rescinding its temporary Construction and Operations Plan (COP) withdrawal and requesting that BOEM resume review of the 800-megawatt wind energy project offshore Massachusetts. The proposed project would be located approximately 12 nautical miles offshore Martha's Vineyard and 12 nautical miles offshore Nantucket in the northern portion of its lease area. Vineyard Wind had paused the Department’s consideration of its proposal while it reviewed whether the use of Haliade-X turbines warranted any modifications to their COP.
President Biden issued an Executive Order on January 27, 2021, that called for the Interior Department to identify steps to accelerate responsible development of renewable energy on public lands and waters. Interior has initiated a review of processes and procedures to date as it re-invests in a rigorous renewable energy programme.
“Today’s announcement from BOEM on the Vineyard Wind project helps move our country closer to realising the once in a generation opportunity that offshore wind represents to combat climate change and jumpstart our nation’s economy” said The American Clean Power Association (ACP) “We applaud Director Lefton for hitting the ground running and moving President Biden’s offshore wind agenda forward as we move swiftly ahead to harness the 83,000 American jobs and $25 billion in annual investments this untapped energy sources represents for the U.S. by the end of this decade. There is no time to waste.”
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