UPCOMING PUBLIC MEETINGS
/PERMITTING
Check this page for the next steps in our partner Vineyard Wind's permitting process, and the latest information about public agency meetings and opportunities for public comment.
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 and Vineyard Power 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 and Vineyard Power staff are 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 Windows
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
BOEM has issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project proposal, and is now taking public comment as to what issues and information should be addressed in the EIS (“scoping”). Below are BOEM’s public scoping meeting schedule and how to submit comment on the project.
Monday, April 16, 2018 - New Bedford
Fairfield Inn and Suites Waypoint Event Center, Sealoft Room,
185 MacArthur Drive, New Bedford, Massachusetts 02740
Open House 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Presentation and Q&A 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018 - Martha’s Vineyard
Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center
130 Center Street, Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts 02568
Open House 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Presentation and Q&A 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket Middle School, Cafeteria
10 Surfside Road, Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554
Open House 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Presentation and Q&A 12:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - Hyannis
Double Tree Hotel, Cape Cod Room
287 Iyannough Road, Hyannis, Massachusetts 02601
Open House 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Presentation and Q&A 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 19, 2018 - Kingston, Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island, Ryan Center, Alumni Lounge
1 Lincoln Almond Plaza, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
Open House 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Presentation and Q&A 6:00 p.m.
Important Note: You can submit comment even if you can’t attend a meeting! The public can submit comment on this stage of the federal process up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, April 30. All comments are treated the same and will be addressed, regardless of whether submitted at a meeting or by one of the methods below. Comments and other submissions of information may be submitted by either of the following two methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled “Enter Keyword or ID,” enter BOEM-2018-0015, and then click “search.” Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting and related materials available for this notice.
- U.S. Postal Service or other delivery service. Send your comments and information to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road (VAM-OREP), Sterling, Virginia 20166
STATE PERMITTING
The Energy Facilities Siting Board will hold its first public hearing and take public comment on the Vineyard Wind Connector:
April 24, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. - Hyannis - Barnstable High School, 744 West Main Street, Hyannis, 02601
Important Note: You can submit comment even if you can’t attend a meeting! The Siting Board (and Vineyard Wind and Vineyard Power) encourages and will accept written comments. Written comments may be submitted to the Siting Board at the public comment hearing or filed with the Siting Board by May 8, 2018 by email or email attachment to: (1) dpu.efiling@state.ma.us and (2) kathryn.sedor@state.ma.us. Alternatively, written comments may be sent by U.S. mail to M. Kathryn Sedor, Esq., Energy Facilities Siting Board, One South Station, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110.