BOEM will hold the third Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force meeting in-person at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, ME on May 10-11, 2023.

Established in 2019, this Task Force is composed of Tribal, Federal, state, and local government officials. It is tasked with facilitating the coordination of renewable energy planning activities on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Maine. It serves as a forum to discuss potential issues and concerns, as well as exchange data and information about ocean resources and uses.

The public is encouraged to attend this meeting where there will be opportunity for public comment on both days. (See below for instructions to submit public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal.)

To register for the meeting: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gulf-of-maine-intergovernmental-renewable-energy-task-force-meeting-2023-tickets-609728914597

If you cannot attend in person, there will be a livestream option to listen to the Task Force meeting (participation and comment opportunities will be limited to those attending in person). The link to the livestream will be added to this page closer to the event.

The meeting will include:

• Updates from Task Force members
• Next steps on the Gulf of Maine commercial leasing process
  - Call for Information and Nominations
  - Additional information BOEM is reviewing as it prepares to identify draft Wind Energy Areas
• Next steps on Maine’s Research Lease application.
• Useful information on key emerging topics:
  - Transmission planning
  - Offshore wind data collection activities: analysis for whales and other protected species
  - Floating offshore wind technology

Meeting Materials

• Draft Agenda (last updated 4/25/2023)
• Call for Information & Nominations (see Commercial Leasing Tab for more information)
• Please see the “Resources” tab of the Gulf of Maine page for fact sheets, and other useful background information.

Note on Public Comments: 

BOEM will accept nominations and public comments through 11:59pm ET on June 12, 2023.

To submit comments electronically, visit:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the search box at the top of the webpage, enter BOEM-2023-0025 and then click “search.” Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting and related material.

After the public comment period closes, BOEM will review and analyze commercial nominations and public comments submitted in response to the Call. BOEM will also consider information from government and Tribal consultations, and the Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force.