In support of the Administration’s all-of-the-above energy policy and using every tool available to achieve energy dominance, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is conducting a high-level assessment of all waters offshore the United States Atlantic Coast for potential future offshore wind lease locations.

BOEM is seeking your input on the Proposed Path Forward for Future Offshore Renewable Energy Leasing on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf through a Request for Feedback (RFF) that will publish in the Federal Register on April 6, 2018.

“The Administration continues to make great progress toward securing America’s energy future,” said Counselor for Energy Policy, Vincent DeVito. “The outlook for offshore wind is bright and today, we are taking the next step to ensure a domestic offshore wind industry.”

To help assess which geographic areas along the Atlantic are the most likely to have highest potential for successful offshore wind development, BOEM is considering multiple factors, highlighted below.

Factors that make an area more likely to be excluded:

1. Areas prohibited by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act for leasing.
2. Department of Defense conflict areas.
3. Charted marine vessel traffic routes.

Factors that make an area more attractive for future leasing:

4. Areas not previously removed.
5. Areas greater than 10 nautical miles (nm) from shore.
6 .Areas shallower than 60 meters (m) in depth.
7. Areas adjacent to states with offshore wind economic incentives.
8. Areas adjacent to states with an interest in identifying additional lease areas.
9. Areas where industry has expressed interest.

BOEM is seeking input on all aspects of our proposed path forward, but particularly, the merits of these factors and whether there are other factors that should be considered at this preliminary stage. Explanations of these factors and sample maps may be found here.

How to Comment:

Stakeholders should submit comments electronically or postmarked no later than May 21, 2018.

• Electronically: www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ search for BOEM-2018-0018. Follow the instructions to submit public comments in response to this document.
• Written Comments: In written form, delivered by hand or by mail, enclosed in an envelope labeled ‘‘Comments on Request for Feedback’’ to: Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OREP, Sterling, Virginia 20166.

Today's announcement reinforces the Administration’s commitment to a diversified energy portfolio that ensures a secure energy future. This includes renewable energy and offshore wind. To date, BOEM has awarded 13 commercial offshore wind leases with wind energy leases off every state from Massachusetts to North Carolina.

For more information including updates on BOEM’s Renewable Energy Program, please visit our website here.