Southern New England
The Rhode Island/Massachusetts offshore wind block consists of 7 leases south of Martha’s Vineyard, southeast of the existing turbines of the Block Island Wind Farm. Learn more about the specific leased areas by visiting BOEM’s Atlantic Fishing Industry page. Complementary to the federal leasing process, many states have their own requirements. Several states’ energy or fisheries offices have organized fisheries working groups to better understand concerns of their fishermen. Existing fisheries working groups:
- Connecticut Commission on Environmental Standards;
- Massachusetts’ Fisheries Working Group on Offshore Wind Energy – administered by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs & MA Clean Energy Center (CEC);
- New Hampshire Offshore Wind Task Force; and
- Rhode Island Fishermen’s Advisory Board (FAB) – established by the CRMC Ocean Special Management Area Management Plan (SAMP);