U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, Reps. Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree, and Maine Gov. Janet Mills have despatched a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Power Administration (BOEM), urging them to fully exclude Lobster Administration Space 1 (LMA 1) from the Wind Power Space (WEA) for potential wind energy growth within the Gulf of Maine.
The letter was despatched following final month’s launch of the draft WEA which excluded a lot of LMA 1 however recognized two Secondary Areas inside LMA 1 for additional enter and attainable inclusion within the remaining WEA.
The lawmakers and governor assert that “clear vitality can supply financial and environmental advantages for Maine that have to be pursued prudently and responsibly with a dedication to minimizing to the best extent attainable the impression on fishermen, recreation and different essential ocean makes use of which are crucial to Maine.”
LMA 1 is a crucial and extremely productive fishing floor for a wide range of sea life, together with lobster. In a current report, BOEM recognized greater than 9.8 million acres within the Gulf of Maine, together with LMA 1 and areas closed seasonally or completely to guard the North Atlantic proper whale, as potential industrial offshore wind websites. Prohibiting offshore wind growth in LMA 1 would assist to keep away from battle with the New England industrial and leisure fishing industries, they are saying.
The letter, and the draft WEA announcement, follows a June letter by which Mills and the Maine congressional delegation urged BOEM to take away Lobster Administration Space 1 and different areas from any additional consideration for industrial offshore wind leasing and to completely take into account the views and issues of Maine fishing communities whereas it continues to weigh leasing areas.
A map of the draft WEA will be discovered on BOEM’s Gulf of Maine webpage. BOEM has opened a 30-day public overview and remark interval on the proposal. To touch upon the draft WEA, go to rules.gov and seek for docket quantity BOEM-2023-0054. BOEM will settle for feedback via November 20.
The textual content of the letter will be discovered right here.
