Monhegan Energy Info

An information resource regarding the proposed Maine Aqua Ventus offshore wind project

NEPA Review Info

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Review

    Spring 2021 Public Scoping Meeting Documents

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is requesting public input on the scope of an Environmental Assessment for “New England Aqua Ventus I.”

    DOE is proposing to authorize the expenditure of federal funding by the University of Maine to design, construct, and commission an offshore wind energy demonstration project called New England Aqua Ventus I. New England Aqua Ventus I would consist of one turbine on a floating foundation in the Gulf of Maine, approximately 2.5 miles south of Monhegan Island, Lincoln County, Maine and 12 miles off the mainland. Additional project activities and/or potential impacts from the project could occur in or near Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Brewer, Searsport, Eastport, and/or Monhegan Island, Maine.

    An Environmental Assessment will be prepared by DOE pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). DOE hosted two virtual public scoping informational meetings on May 26, 2021. Interested persons were invited to attend these informational meetings to learn more about the project. DOE and University of Maine staff presented an overview of the project. After the presentation, project representatives were available to answer questions from the public posted via the online chat function. Please note, the informational meetings did not document formal project comments and were for informational purposes only. Formal comments on the scope of issues, resources, and alternatives to be analyzed in the Environmental Assessment must be provided via email or by letter at the addresses shown below.

    You are invited to submit written comments on the scope of issues, resources, and alternatives to be analyzed in the Environmental Assessment. Please direct any written comments by June 11, 2021 to: U.S. DOE, Golden Field Office, NEPA Division, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80401, or by email to AquaVentus1EA@ee.doe.gov.

    Presentation documents can be found at the following link:

    https://www.energy.gov/nepa/articles/spring-2021-public-scoping-meeting-documents

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    Notice of Public Scoping and Public Meetings for a Proposed Offshore Wind Demonstration Project - “New England Aqua Ventus I”

    The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is requesting public input on the scope of an Environmental Assessment for “New England Aqua Ventus I.”

    DOE is proposing to authorize the expenditure of federal funding by the University of Maine to design, construct, and commission an offshore wind energy demonstration project called New England Aqua Ventus I. New England Aqua Ventus I would consist of one turbine on a floating foundation in the Gulf of Maine, approximately 2.5 miles south of Monhegan Island, Lincoln County, Maine and 12 miles off the mainland. Additional project activities and/or potential impacts from the project could occur in or near Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Brewer, Searsport, Eastport, and/or Monhegan Island, Maine.

    An Environmental Assessment will be prepared by DOE pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). DOE will host two virtual public scoping informational meetings on: May 26, 2021 from 1:00 pm to 3:00pm and 5:30 pm to 7:30pm (EST). Interested persons are invited to attend these informational meetings to learn more about the project. DOE and University of Maine staff will present an overview of the project. After the presentation, project representatives will be available to answer questions from the public posted via the online chat function. To attend the meetings, an access link will be posted on DOE’s New England Aqua Ventus I website at least one week prior to the
    meetings: www.energy.gov/node/2053718. If you are unable to access the presentation online, you can monitor the presentation (listen only mode) by using the following phone numbers and Access IDs to enter each call:

    May 26, 2021, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (EST): (562) 247-8421 | Access ID: 469-509-463
    May 26, 2021, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm (EST): (951) 384-3421 | Access ID: 282-136-662

    You are invited to submit written comments on the scope of issues, resources, and alternatives to be analyzed in the Environmental Assessment. Please direct any written comments by June 11, 2021 to: U.S. DOE, Golden Field Office, NEPA Division, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80401, or by email to AquaVentus1EA@ee.doe.gov.

    Please note, the informational meetings will not document formal project comments and are for informational purposes only. Formal comments on the scope of issues, resources, and alternatives to be analyzed in the Environmental Assessment must be provided via email or by letter at the addresses shown above. Additional meeting information may be found at: www.energy.gov/node/2053718.

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    NEAV 2/3/21 Meeting Recording

    A recording of the meeting can be found here: https://youtu.be/DmRjzPSCAnQ

    During the February 3rd call organized by the Monhegan Energy Task Force, a question was posed about the upcoming National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process that is run by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  The question focused on why information on the DOE website about the NEPA process was not consistent with what was provided during the call, and whether the process would include a new public scoping period.

    Since the call, DOE representatives have provided clarification, including that they are in the process of revising the project description and will update their webpage soon.  DOE further clarified the steps in the process going forward, as follows:

    • DOE will be hosting public information meetings rather than public scoping meetings
    • While still in development, DOE anticipates the public information meetings will be similar to the previously held scoping meetings in presenting information about the project
    • DOE will reach out to communities in the area of the project so they may participate in the meetings
    • The public will have an opportunity to provide comments on the draft environmental assessment (EA)

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