U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR ISSUES FINAL SALE NOTICE FOR MARYLAND OFFSHORE ‘WIND ENERGY AREA’
ANNAPOLIS (July 2, 2014) -- Today, the United States Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued the Final Sale Notice for Maryland’s offshore Wind Energy Area (WEA) -- the last major regulatory step before BOEM can auction the lease areas within the WEA. The auction for the nearly 80,000 acres offshore Maryland will occur on August 19, 2014.
“To combat climate change, we must develop cleaner, renewable sources of energy -- and today's announcement is a tremendous step forward for the U.S. offshore wind industry,” said Governor O’Malley. “As we continue our work to drive up renewable energy generation in Maryland by 20 percent by 2022, the O’Malley-Brown Administration is committed to continuing to work with our federal partners to do everything we can to meet this goal and create a stronger, more sustainable future for generations to come. ”
“Maryland is a leading force for building a clean and sustainable energy future,” said Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. “Thanks to Governor O’Malley’s leadership and significant stakeholder involvement through BOEM’s Maryland Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force, we have reached another milestone as we strengthen our nation’s foothold in the new energy frontier.”
The Maryland WEA covers approximately 94 square nautical miles of ocean beginning 10 nautical miles (approx. 11.5 miles) off the shores of Ocean City, Maryland. The area is further subdivided into northern and southern lease areas in order to ensure efficient use of the available area and support competition. BOEM has solicited input from developers and the public regarding this area, most recently, in December of 2013, through a Proposed Sale Notice.
As noted by Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) Director Abigail Ross Hopper, “Today’s action represents the culmination of years of comprehensive marine spatial planning work with maritime stakeholders, coastal communities, academic institutions, and Maryland businesses. This collaboration will ensure that offshore wind energy can be developed in harmony with the environment and other users of the oceans.”
Maryland Leasing Areas
MEA and other Maryland agencies have invested significant resources in atmospheric, ecological, and geophysical surveys of the WEA, making it the most closely studied area of the Outer Continental Shelf under consideration for offshore wind development. Major surveys of marine mammals and other wildlife in the area are continuing to ensure that offshore wind projects can be developed without impacting the marine environment.
For more information about this initiative, please visit: http://www.boem.gov/State-Activities-Maryland/
To find out more about Maryland’s plan to address climate change, please visit: http://climatechange.maryland.gov/
ANNAPOLIS (July 2, 2014) -- Today, the United States Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued the Final Sale Notice for Maryland’s offshore Wind Energy Area (WEA) -- the last major regulatory step before BOEM can auction the lease areas within the WEA. The auction for the nearly 80,000 acres offshore Maryland will occur on August 19, 2014.
“To combat climate change, we must develop cleaner, renewable sources of energy -- and today's announcement is a tremendous step forward for the U.S. offshore wind industry,” said Governor O’Malley. “As we continue our work to drive up renewable energy generation in Maryland by 20 percent by 2022, the O’Malley-Brown Administration is committed to continuing to work with our federal partners to do everything we can to meet this goal and create a stronger, more sustainable future for generations to come. ”
“Maryland is a leading force for building a clean and sustainable energy future,” said Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. “Thanks to Governor O’Malley’s leadership and significant stakeholder involvement through BOEM’s Maryland Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force, we have reached another milestone as we strengthen our nation’s foothold in the new energy frontier.”
The Maryland WEA covers approximately 94 square nautical miles of ocean beginning 10 nautical miles (approx. 11.5 miles) off the shores of Ocean City, Maryland. The area is further subdivided into northern and southern lease areas in order to ensure efficient use of the available area and support competition. BOEM has solicited input from developers and the public regarding this area, most recently, in December of 2013, through a Proposed Sale Notice.
As noted by Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) Director Abigail Ross Hopper, “Today’s action represents the culmination of years of comprehensive marine spatial planning work with maritime stakeholders, coastal communities, academic institutions, and Maryland businesses. This collaboration will ensure that offshore wind energy can be developed in harmony with the environment and other users of the oceans.”
Maryland Leasing Areas
MEA and other Maryland agencies have invested significant resources in atmospheric, ecological, and geophysical surveys of the WEA, making it the most closely studied area of the Outer Continental Shelf under consideration for offshore wind development. Major surveys of marine mammals and other wildlife in the area are continuing to ensure that offshore wind projects can be developed without impacting the marine environment.
For more information about this initiative, please visit: http://www.boem.gov/State-Activities-Maryland/
To find out more about Maryland’s plan to address climate change, please visit: http://climatechange.maryland.gov/
