For those who might be unaware, a proposal for an expansive commercial wind energy lease off of Long Island, NY, has been under consideration for the last few years. The request for said lease was made by the New York Power Authority on behalf of the Long Island-New York City Offshore Wind Collaborative and seeks to claim a 127 square mile area of the outer continental shelf for the purpose of constructing wind turbines. Located approximately 12 miles offshore, this site won’t impose the same egregious eye sore as LIPA’s failed Jones Beach wind farm proposal, but it may bring something much more impactive than mere tainted scenery: a loss of fishing opportunity.
To put things into perspective, 127 square miles is equivalent to an area more than triple the size of Manhattan and this proposed wind farm will be situated smack in the middle of crucial and abundant scallop grounds that are also favored by ground fish such as blackfish, sea bass and cod as pelagics including shark and tuna. If the wind farm goes forward, anchoring, trolling and drifting in and around the developed areas will obviously present hazards and challenges for both recreational and commercial fishermen – that is if Homeland Security and the Coast Guard even allow fisherman near such structures. Additionally, some have suggested that structures so prominent in a territory so vast have the potential to confuse and/or redirect migratory fish and alter the aggregation of juvenile fish.
The initial public comment period for this windmill farm has officially ended, but it still couldn’t hurt to fire off a letter in protest if you feel strongly about this proposed project. There should also be additional comment periods down the line as the proposal moves ahead. Because the wind farm would reside in federal waters, you’ll need to contact the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) if you want to voice your opinion. Their job is to deal with the leasing of areas along the outer continental shelf for renewable energy development. Address your letters to: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 381 Elden St. HM, 1328, Herndon, VA, 20170 and make reference to docket #BOEM-2012-0083.
