PERMITTING & DOCUMENTS
The New England Wind1 Project, formally known as Park City Wind, is subject to permitting, review, and consultations with different agencies at the federal, state, regional, and local levels as well as with Tribal Nations.
Federal Permitting
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The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) manages the responsible development of America’s offshore energy and mineral resources. The bureau promotes energy independence, environmental protection and economic development through responsible, science-based management of energy and mineral resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
For all documents related to federal permitting, please visit BOEM’s website here.
Documents
Record of Decision (ROD) - April 2024
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) - February 2024
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) - December 2022
New England Wind (OCS-A 0534) Construction and Operations Plan - June 2022
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The Office of Coastal Zone Managemet is the lead policy, planning, and technical assistance agency on coastal and ocean issues within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and implements the state’s coastal program under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act.
Documents
New England Wind Federal Consistency Determination - November 2023
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The Coastal Resources Management Council is a management agency with regulatory functions. Its primary responsibility is for the preservation, protection, development and where possible the restoration of the coastal areas of the state via the implementation of its integrated and comprehensive coastal management plans and the issuance of permits for work with the coastal zone of the state.
Documents
New England Wind Federal Consistency Determination - October 2023
New England Wind 1 is being federally permitted as part of Phase 1 of a phased development called New England Wind.
More information can be found on the New England Wind’s United States Federal Permitting Dashboard.
Massachusetts Permitting
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The Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) is an independent state board that reviews proposed large energy facilities including power plants, electric transmission lines, intra-state natural gas pipelines, and natural gas storage tanks. To obtain EFSB approval, a proposed facility must demonstrate that it would provide a reliable energy supply, with a minimum impact on the environment, at the lowest possible cost. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) administratively supports the work of the EFSB and its staff, but the nine-member EFSB makes its decisions independently. EFSB staff also conducts DPU siting-related cases that do not fall within the EFSB’s jurisdiction.
Filings and petition materials can be found here.
The Siting Board held a hearing, in-person and via Zoom, on December 11, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This hearing included an opportunity for submission of public comment ahead of the hearing with public comments due by close of business on December 6, 2023.
Documents
New England Wind 1 Connector - Petition Before the Energy Facilities Siting Board - May 2020
October 2020 Public Hearing Notification - English
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The MEPA review process provides meaningful opportunities for public review of potential environmental impacts of certain projects for which certain actions by state agencies are required. It requires state agencies to study the environmental impacts of projects requiring state permitting, financial assistance or land disposition, and to use all feasible measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate damage to the environment or, to the extent damage to the environment cannot be avoided, to minimize and mitigate damage to the environment to the maximum extent practicable.
New England Wind 1 is currently undergoing a state-level permit review process in Massachusetts as part of Phase 1 of a phased development called New England Wind.
Regional Permitting
New England Wind 1 is currently undergoing a regional-level permit review process in Massachusetts as part of Phase 1 of a phased development called New England Wind.
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The Cape Cod Commission is the regional land use planning, economic development, and regulatory agency created in 1990 to serve the citizens and 15 towns of Barnstable County, Massachusetts.
Park City Wind is subject to review as a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) pursuant to Sections 12 & 13 of the Cape Cod Commission Act, as amended. The DRI Application, a route map, and other project materials may be accessed for review here.
Documents
Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Decision - September 2023
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The Martha's Vineyard Commission (MVC) is the regional planning agency for Martha’s Vineyard Island and the Elizabeth Islands (together, comprising the County of Dukes County).
Park City Wind is subject to review as a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) to the Commission. The DRI Application, written decision, and project materials may be accessed for review here.
Documents
Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Decision - September 2022
Local Permitting
New England Wind 1 is currently undergoing a local-level permit review process in Massachusetts as part of Phase 1 of a phased development called New England Wind.
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The Barnstable Conservation Commission is the municipal agency responsible for ensuring compliance with the Massachusetts’ Wetlands Protection Act and the Town of Barnstable Wetlands Protection Ordinance.
A Notice of Intent (NOI) for Park City Wind was filed with the Commission in April 2022. Following the conclusion of the regional review of Park City Wind Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Application by the Cape Cod Commission, Park City Wind’s NOI was reviewed by the Barnstable Conservation Commission. A first hearing was held during the August 8, 2023 regular meeeting of the Commission. A second hearing was held during the September 5, 2023 regular meeting of the Commission.
Documents
Plans and applications describing the proposed activity are on file with the Conservation Commission here, by email to Kimberly.Cavanaugh@town.barnstable.ma.us, or by calling 508-862-4093.
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The Edgartown Conservation Commission administers and enforces the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, M.G.L. C. 131 s. 40, and the Edgartown Wetlands Bylaw; acquires and manages property for the purpose of conserving and/or preserving rare or unique aspects of the environment.
Documents
Edgartown Conservation Commission Permit to Work - September 2023
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The Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (the Act) requires that no person shall remove, dredge, or alter any bank, freshwater or coastal wetlands, beach, dunes, flat, marsh, meadow or swamp bordering on any resource area as defined in the Act without filing written notice of the intention to perform such work with the Conservation Commission of the Town in which the land is located and receiving a permit from the Commission to perform the work. This mandated authority was reinforced by the 1963 Annual Town Meeting which authorized the establishment of a Conservation Commission for the town. Since that time the Town of Nantucket has developed a Wetlands Bylaw (Chapter 136) to provide further local control.
