Offshore NJ/NY Wind Energy Development Open for Public Comments

The prospect of wind turbine arrays along the approaches to New York Harbor are now closer to being a reality. Some environmentalists and advocates for maritime industries are making their opinions known.

This is the largest U.S. petroleum products port. Some supporters for developing offshore wind energy and the jobs it would bring to the port area have also expressed concern that it be accomplished without increasing hazards in the East Coast shipping crossroads and with a minimal environmental impact.

In a series of regional meetings the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is gathering information on its latest “call area” to consider expanding offshore wind energy leasing in the New York Bight. The Bight is an arm of the Atlantic curved between New Jersey and New York’s Long Island shore, with the harbor entrance at its apex.

In response to a request from Governor Murphy, BOEM has extended the public comment period for offshore wind energy development in the four designated Call Areas within the New York/New Jersey Bight.

Although stakeholders will have other opportunities to provide comments during the wind energy development process, providing comments at this first stage is critical for reducing potential user conflicts and potential adverse impacts to marine species and habitats. The public comment now closes on July 30, 2018.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has collaborated with BOEM to facilitate 3 public comment sessions to help ensure that BOEM is aware of the questions or concerns that New Jersey’s marine resource stakeholders may have. Details of dates, times, locations, and other information, are included in the attachments.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has collaborated with BOEM to facilitate 3 public comment sessions to help ensure that BOEM is aware of the questions or concerns that New Jersey’s marine resource stakeholders may have.  Please note that only written comments will be considered as formal comment submissions; however, BOEM will provide comment cards at the meeting for handwritten submissions.

If you are unable to attend a meeting, or if you prefer to submit written comment to BOEM electronically, you must do so before July 30th.   Comments may be submitted electronically or in hard-copy form.   To submit comments online, or get information on how to mail in comments, please visit http://www.regulations.gov and in the search bar, enter ‘BOEM-2018-0004.’

The dates, times, and locations of the meetings are:
June 25th, 5-7pm, Ocean City Rec Center, East 8th and Haven Ave., Ocean City
July 9th, 5-7pm, Belmar Twp. Municipal Bldg., 601 Main St., Belmar
July 10th, 5-7pm, Stafford Twp. Municipal Bldg., 260 E. Bay Ave., Manahawkin

There is no cost to participate in the meeting(s)