BOEM Task Force

In 2012, BOEM identified three Wind Energy Call Areas off of North Carolina (US Government, Federal Register Vol 77, No. 240, December 2012): the Kitty Hawk Call Area is located near the North Carolina-Virginia border whereas both the Wilmington-West and Wilmington-East Call Areas are located near the North Carolina-South Carolina border, near Cape Fear and Frying Pan Shoals. In August 2014, BOEM announced three, fully vetted, WEAs offshore of North Carolina, in which each of the three Call Areas were reduced in size. This research project examined the seafloor and benthic communities in the Wilmington-East Call Area with some assessments focused on the smaller Wilmington-East WEA.

BOEM has defined three Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) offshore North Carolina. The Kitty Hawk WEA begins about 24 nautical miles (nm) from shore and extends approximately 25.7 nm in a general southeast direction at its widest point. Its seaward extent ranges from 13.5 nm in the north to .6 nm in the south. It contains approximately 21.5 OCS blocks (122,405 acres). The Wilmington West WEA begins about 10 nm from shore and extends approximately 12.3 nm in an east-west direction at its widest point. It contains just over 9 OCS blocks (approximately 51,595 acres). The Wilmington East WEA begins about 15 nm from Bald Head Island at its closest point and extends approximately 18 nm in the southeast direction at its widest point. It contains approximately 25 OCS blocks (133,590 acres).

On January 23, 2015, BOEM published an Environmental Assessment (EA) for public review and comment. BOEM carefully considered all comments received, and on September 17, 2015, made available a revised environmental assessment (EA) for the Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) offshore North Carolina. As a result of the analysis in the revised EA, BOEM issued a "Finding of No Significant Impact" (FONSI), which concluded that reasonably foreseeable environmental effects associated with the commercial wind lease issuance and related activities would not significantly impact the environment. 

BOEM announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment for potential commercial wind leasing and site assessment activities on the Atlantic OCS offshore South Carolina.

The Call for Information and Nominations published by BOEM to gauge the offshore wind industry's interest in acquiring commercial wind leases off South Carolina.

Appendix U contains a navigational risk assessment of potential risks to navigation safety as a result of the construction, installation, operation, and placement of the Block Island Wind Farm and Block Island Transmission System.

Appendix T contains an analysis of potential shadow flicker impacts of the Block Island Wind Farm.

Appendix S-2 contains a visual impact assessment for the above-ground components of the Block Island Transmission System (BITS), within a 0.5-mile radius around each of the proposed substation sites and their associated overhead electric lines.

Appendix S-1 contains a visual impact assessment of the Block Island Wind Farm within a 30-mile radius of each of the project's proposed turbines.

Appendix O contains a comprehensive baseline assessment of avian and bat resources within and surrounding the Block Island Wind Farm project area.