Permitting process and public comment window

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Check this page for the next steps in the Vineyard Wind permitting process, and the latest information about public agency meetings and opportunities for public comment.  For any questions regarding the permitting process, please email Erik at erik@vineyardpower.com.

Many of these documents are available to the public in print form, please click here for a listing of locations.

OVERVIEW

The Vineyard Wind project is subject to permitting, review, and consultations with nearly 30 different agencies at the federal, state, local, tribal, and regional levels.

The lead federal permitting agency is the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Visit BOEM’s webpage for the Vineyard Wind project for further information, and current opportunities to submit comment and public meeting schedule. The detailed project proposal is contained in the Construction and Operations Plan (COP), which is available on this BOEM webpage.

The Vineyard Wind Connector, the transmission cables bringing the clean energy from the turbine area 14 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard to the New England grid connection point in Barnstable, is subject to approval by the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board. In addition, the project is subject to review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act.

Vineyard Wind encourages active participation in the permitting process! Please email us at info@vineyardwind.com if you have any questions or concerns about the permitting process and how you can participate and be heard.

In addition to the formal permitting process, Vineyard Wind staff is continuously meeting with fishermen, local residents and other stakeholders. Visit our community connections page to connect with the right project staff person about any questions or concerns you might have.

UPCOMING PUBLIC AGENCY MEETINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT

There will be multiple public agency meetings and opportunity to submit public comment. This section shows current information and will be updated throughout the permitting process.

FEDERAL PERMITTING

The United States’ Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has issued a Notice of Availability (NOA) for Vineyard Wind’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The DEIS was prepared by BOEM as part of the agency’s review of Vineyard Wind’s proposed 800-megawatt (MW) wind farm to be constructed in federal waters south of Martha’s Vineyard and approximately 34 miles south of the Cape Cod mainland.

The purpose of the review is to ensure the technical accuracy of all aspects of the document and offer an opportunity for the public to comment. You can learn more about BOEM’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Process here.

There is a 45 day public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the project. The public comment period ends January 22, 2019. The public may either comment to in writing or by making oral comments at one of the public meetings. Additional information on Vineyard Wind’s DEIS can be found here.

STATE PERMITTING

On September 5, 2018, Vineyard Wind submitted the project’s Vineyard Wind’s proposal is currently undergoing extensive reviews by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office and the Energy Facilities Siting Board. More information on these permit applications and processes can be found in our Document Room. Future releases or opportunity for public input will be posted here.

Please visit here. for information on the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR).

SUBMIT COMMENTS NOW

FEDERAL:

BOEM has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that describes the project’s effects on the environment. You may submit written comments on the DEIS until January 22, 2019 through the following methods:

  • Using the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the search box, enter BOEM-2018-0069, and then click "search." Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting and related materials available for this notice.

  • In written form, deliver by hand or by mail: Enclose comments in an envelope labeled “Vineyard Wind COP Draft EIS" and provide to the following address: Program Manager, Office of Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time.

STATE:

Vineyard Wind has submitted its Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office.

Public comment to the FEIR should be submitted by January 25, 2019.

         Mr. Matthew Beaton, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs
         Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
         MEPA Office Purvi Patel, EEA No. 15787 (Vineyard Wind Connector)
         100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
         Boston, MA 02114