On 2 February 2012, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced the completion of an environmental assessment (EA) on 1,330 square miles of proposed Wind Energy Areas in federal waters off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic US. The EA resulted in a finding of "no significant impact" (FONSI) on the offshore areas under consideration. Consequently, BOEM issued a call for site nominations off the coasts of Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Delaware concluded similar calls over the past year. The top five respondents to federal calls (by total area of interest)-NRG Bluewater, Fishermen's Energy, Neptune Wind, Iberdrola, and Apex Wind-have already expressed interest in a combined 4,700 square miles. Key trends in this On Point include: Despite federal policy aimed at accelerating offshore supply, development timelines remain long and uncertain. Political support bolsters near-term projects. Long-term development faces significant political risk.
On 2 February 2012, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced the completion of an environmental assessment (EA) on 1,330 square miles of proposed Wind Energy Areas in federal waters off the coast of the Mid-Atlantic US. The EA resulted in a finding of "no significant impact" (FONSI) on the offshore areas under consideration. Consequently, BOEM issued a call for site nominations off the coasts of Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Delaware concluded similar calls over the past year. The top five respondents to federal calls (by total area of interest)-NRG Bluewater, Fishermen's Energy, Neptune Wind, Iberdrola, and Apex Wind-have already expressed interest in a combined 4,700 square miles. Key trends in this On Point include: