The Business Network For Offshore Wind, a company that builds U.S. offshore wind supply chains, believes that it is critical to address stakeholder conflicts throughout the offshore wind development. The Network and its members are committed to meeting all local, state and federal environmental requirements for offshore wind development.
From: file:///C:/Users/Paul/Downloads/New-York-State-Offshore-Wind-Blueprint.pdf
The auctioning of the rights to the wind farm off the coast of New York was delayed today due to pushback from fishing groups. A petition to delay the auction of the wind lease area was presented to the federal court. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management was set to administer the lease sale on December 15th. Fishing groups are concerned about the impact a large-scale wind project will have on the access to prime fishing areas.
The U.S Bureau of Ocean Energy and Management (BOEM) requires an extensive stakeholder marine spatial planning process that de-conflicts the wind energy area prior to the Point of Sale Notice (PSN). The Network has witnessed first hand how BOEM’s offshore wind energy area leasing policies foster the co-existence of industries and shared utilization of our nation’s ocean resources to the benefit of the states, their businesses, and citizens.
The State of New York moving forward with offshore wind would contribute to a regional pipeline of 4 to 6 GW of OSW that could create more than 60,000 manufacturing, marine construction, marine transportation, logistics, operations and maintenance jobs. There are approximately 2,500 wind turbines deployed in the ocean off the coast of Europe today equating to almost 4 GW of offshore wind energy generation, creating more than 60,000 jobs and co-existing with other ocean users. Throughout Europe the presence of turbine structures in the ocean creates an artificial reef, which serves as a new habitat for marine life. Fishing around offshore wind farms is not prohibited, and proves beneficial to the success of the fishing industry.
It is the Network and its more than 130 members’ position that conflicts that arise can be resolved with sound science and a willingness to cooperate. We remain committed to resolving these concerns based on following the best available science and meeting the mutual needs of all the parties. We hope that this issue will be resolved quickly and that the New York Wind Offshore Wind Energy Area can be leased within a timely manner to benefit the emerging offshore wind industry supply chain and the well established commercial fisheries.
Filed Under: Offshore wind, Policy
