Despite the collapse of the market, rising costs and prices, and the threat to wildlife, the powers that be are moving forward with offshore wind development off the coast of New Hampshire and Maine.
Related: Wind and Whales
Part of that process involves a public comment period before offshore leases will be sold for development. If you have questions or comments, this is the time.
During the 60-day public comment period (May 1 – July 1, 2024) on the Proposed Sale Notice (PSN), BOEM will hold a series of in-person and virtual public meetings to describe the different elements of the PSN, answer questions, and collect public comments.
Agendas will be posted in the coming weeks
In-Person Meetings
Open House Meetings: BOEM will host three “open-house” style meetings to allow the public to talk with BOEM’s scientists and other personnel. This informal format allows people to ask questions and share information directly with BOEM employees on the Proposed Sale Notice.
At the meetings, there will also be official presentations followed by an opportunity for questions and answers focused on the Proposed Sale Notice. While the meeting will not be recorded, the Q&A session will be summarized thematically and later entered as a meeting summary on the Proposed Sale Notice docket on Regulations.gov. The majority of the meeting time will be focused on providing the public with opportunities to engage directly with BOEM subject matter experts at poster stations.
Attendees can submit official public comments for Regulations.gov, either in writing or via oral recording and transcription at a Comment Station
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- Open House – Portland, Maine
- Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2024
- Time: 5-8pm
- Location: Holiday Inn Portland-by the Bay (88 Spring Street Portland, ME 04101)
- Registration
- Open House – Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2024
- Time: 5-8pm
- Location: Urban Forestry Center (45 Elwyn Rd, Portsmouth, NH 03801)
- Registration
- Open House – Danvers, Massachusetts
- Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024
- Time: 5-8pm
- Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, North Shore (50 Ferncroft Rd, Danvers, MA 01923)
- Registration
- Open House – Portland, Maine
Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force Meeting: BOEM will host the fourth Gulf of Maine Task Force in Plymouth, MA. This meeting will be in-person and also livestreamed; however, virtual attendees will only be able to watch and listen, and not actively participate.
As with prior Task Force Meetings, agenda sessions will include time for facilitated dialog among Task Force members, both in plenary and table discussions. Members of the public are invited to observe all plenary discussions. The agenda will include significant time for public input. Comments or questions during public input opportunities will be captured in a high-level meeting summary that is entered on the Proposed Sale Notice docket on Regulations.gov.
Members of the public interested in submitting individual public comments on the Regulations.gov docket will have the opportunity to do so (in writing or via oral recording and transcription) at a Comment Station.
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- Task Force Meeting – Plymouth, MA
- Date: Friday, May 31, 2024
- Time: 8:30am-4:30pm
- Location: Hotel 1620 (180 Water St, Plymouth, MA 02360)
- Registration
- Task Force Meeting – Plymouth, MA
Virtual Meetings
BOEM will host a series of virtual meetings for various target audiences, ranging from the general public to specific ocean user and stakeholder groups. Members of the public are welcome to attend any of the meetings below, however, user specific meetings will focus conversation on the stated topics and prioritize participation by those from the sector of focus. All virtual meetings will be recorded, with recordings later posted on this web page. There will be an opportunity for questions and answers focused on the Proposed Sale Notice. Comments or questions during public input opportunities will be captured in a high-level meeting summary that is entered on the Proposed Sale Notice docket on Regulations.gov; however, we will not be transcribing individual comments during virtual meetings.
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- General Public
- Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024
- Time: 6-8pm
- Registration
- Commercial Fishing (Mobile & Fixed Gear)
- Date: Thursday, June 6, 2024
- Time: 5-7pm
- Registration
- Recreational Fishing and Highly Migratory Species
- Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2024
- Time: 5-7pm
- Registration
- Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (eNGOs)
- Date: Monday, June 10, 2024
- Time: 1:30-3:30pm
- Registration
- Commercial Maritime (Shipping)
- Date: Monday, June 10, 2024
- Time: 4-6pm
- Registration
- General Public
Governor Sununu has long been in favor of developing wind off the coast of New Hampshire, and his commission can’t be expected to do anything but nod its collective head.
If you object, or think you do, it’s up to you.
