State Energy and Environment Officials Host Federal Officials for Public Meetings on the Offshore Wind Development Process

During the week of February 13, 2012, officials from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) will participate in multiple U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) public meetings, with locations in Martha’s Vineyard, New Bedford and Boston. The purpose of the meetings is to provide information and take public comment on BOEM’s issuance of a Call for Information and Nominations and Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment for the potential development of offshore wind energy projects in an area of federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf south of Massachusetts. The sessions will include presentations from BOEM followed by a public comment period. In addition, EEA will host fisheries and habitat working group meetings that week. Both working groups were formed by EEA to inform the federal offshore wind development process.

EEA Assistant Secretary for Federal Affairs Bill White
Office of Coastal Zone Management Director Bruce Carlisle
Representatives from BOEM

BOEM Public Information Meeting
Monday February 13, 2012, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Katharine Cornell Theater
54 Spring Street, Vineyard Haven

BOEM Public Information Meeting
Tuesday February 14, 2012, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Conference Room “B”, 2nd Floor, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street, Boston

Fisheries Working Group
Monday February 13, 2012, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
New Bedford Harbor Development Commission, Wharfinger Building
52 Fisherman’s Wharf, New Bedford

Habitat Working Group
Tuesday February 14, 2012, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Conference Room “B”, 2nd Floor, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
100 Cambridge Street, Boston