Offshore Wind Wire

The Minerals Management Service will establish a regional office next year to handle offshore wind projects in federal water off the Atlantic coast, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Wednesday.

“Given the enormous potential … MMS needs a dedicated Atlantic Region office as we plan for offshore renewable energy commercial leasing.” Salazar said.

The Minerals Management Service — the Interior Department agency responsible for offshore wind permitting — completed a framework earlier this year for leasing of offshore wind sites.  The MMS is establishing joint task forces with relevant states to handle permitting on the Outer Continental Shelf.  MMS officials have held task force meetings with officials from Delaware, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia.  Salazar recently approved ground-breaking exploratory leases for offshore wind develeopment near New Jersey and Delaware.

The new office will handle “leasing, environmental programs, the formation of task forces, state consultation, and post-lease permitting in federal waters off the east coast.”the Interior Department said in a statement.

Salazar made his announcement has he toured an offshore wind farm in Denmark.