Offshore Wind Wire

Experts Praise Massachusetts Offshore Wind Planning

Experts across Massachusetts gave positive reviews this week to the state’s ground-breaking Ocean Management Plan. The plan, released Monday, zoned state waters for offshore wind development and is being promoted as the first of its kind in the country. It set aside two areas in the south of the state for large-scale commercial development and [...]

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Massachusetts Ocean Plan Delegates Offshore Wind Regulation

By Peter Brennan Massachusetts delegated regulation of some offshore wind development to local officials today in the final draft of the highly anticipated Ocean Management Plan. The plan, which was required by the Massachusetts Oceans Act of 2008, zones state waters for large-scale offshore wind development and is being touted as the first offshore wind-zoning plan [...]

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Final Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan Debuts Monday

By Peter Brennan Massachusetts will publicly release the final draft of the highly anticipated Ocean Management Plan early next week, according to state officials. The Plan, touted by officials as the first of its kind in the nation, will zone state waters for large-scale offshore wind development. The Massachusetts Oceans Act required Energy and Environmental Affairs [...]

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Cape Cod Officials Add Offshore Wind Hurdle

By Peter Brennan BOSTON — Officials on Cape Cod voted last Thursday to create an additional legal hurdle for offshore wind development in a roughly 900-square-mile area, including Cape Cod Bay. The creation of a District of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC) would give the Cape Cod Commission the final say on any development projects within the district. [...]

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Interior Dept Says MA Offshore Wind Plan Lacks Data

By Peter Brennan The United States Fish and Wildlife Service last month criticized the draft Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan for “data gaps.” The Ocean Management Plan is designed to zone state waters for large-scale offshore wind development. A final version is due Dec. 31.  Massachusetts officials say the comprehensive plan is the first of its kind [...]

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Environmental Watchdog Cries Foul Over Massachusetts Ocean Plan Concessions

By Peter Brennan A leading environmental law group said last month that Massachusetts officials exceeded their legal authority when they delegated offshore wind regulation to regional planning agencies. In a Nov. 23 letter to Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles, the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) outlined what it claims are inconsistencies between the Massachusetts Draft Ocean [...]

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