Photo: Laurie O'Reilly
April 30, 2024 (Boston, MA) – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced today two sales for offshore wind that would generate 18 gigawatts of energy combined, enough to power six million homes. One of those sales is in the Gulf of Maine, including south of Maine’s coast and east of Cape Cod. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement in response.
“If properly sited, the Gulf of Maine is an ideal location for offshore wind and this announcement is a critical milestone in the region’s climate fight,” said Kate Sinding Daly, Senior Vice President of Law and Policy at Conservation Law Foundation. “We need offshore wind to slash toxic pollutants across New England, and we can do that with the urgency that the climate crisis calls for while still protecting wildlife, habitats, and surrounding communities.”
The sale includes areas that provide important habitat to the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. CLF is pushing for the federal government to take necessary measures to avoid and minimize impacts to this endangered species, including avoiding the most important habitats. You can read more about CLF’s work to develop offshore wind sustainably here.
CLF experts are available for comment.
###