BOEM gets set to prepare Revolution Wind EIS

Written by Nick Blenkey
Offshore wind turbines

Image courtesy Ørsted

Another U.S. offshore wind project is taking a step further along the regulatory highway. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted by Ørsted and Eversource’s Revolution Wind LLC.

If approved by BOEM, Revolution Wind would be allowed to construct and operate an 880-megawatt (MW) wind energy facility offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The publication of the NOI opens a 30-day public comment period. During this time, BOEM will hold three virtual public scoping meetings and accept comments to inform the preparation of the EIS.

“Public input plays an essential role in identifying and mitigating any potential impacts from proposed energy development activities,” said BOEM Director Amanda Lefton. “BOEM is committed to ensuring that any future offshore wind development is done safely and responsibly, and with the benefit of feedback from critical stakeholders.”

The Biden-Harris administration has set a target of 30 gigawatts (GW) of installed offshore wind energy by 2030. If approved, the Revolution Wind project could directly create 1,200 jobs in Connecticut and Rhode Island as well as thousands of induced jobs, say BOEM.

Detailed information about the proposed wind energy facility, including how to comment, can be found on BOEM’s website at www.boem.gov/Revolution-Wind.

ARMADA OF VESSELS

Among the documents available is the Construction and Operations Plan (April 2021) for the farm. It should be compulsory reading for anyone interested in what’s involved in putting a wind farm into the water — including a listing of all the vessel types and numbers that will be required. Download the PDF and search for “Summary of Vessels and Helicopters for Offshore Construction.”

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