The Martha's Vineyard Times

Martha's Vineyard and federal wind energy forum

September 28, 2011

A public forum on October 5 will focus on the experiences of Martha's Vineyard and other coastal communities in dealing with the federal government's approach to offshore wind energy development. Members of the Federal Wind Energy Task Force, the Wind Energy Plan for Dukes County Work Group, and the Ocean Conservancy will take part in the event, which begins at 5 pm in the Howes House in West Tisbury, according to a press release sent out on their behalf by the Martha's Vineyard Commission (MVC).

Sandra Whitehouse, Senior Advisor with the Ocean Conservancy in Washington, will join Martha's Vineyard stakeholders in discussing the importance of local input in the federal planning and development process, in order to balance the use of federal waters for wind energy development while still protecting the ocean's resources.

The discussion also will focus on identifying the best avenues for public comment in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) wind energy development and planning processes. BOEMRE's "Smart from the Start" process will be discussed as well, along with national ocean policy and coastal and marine spatial planning.

Tribal representatives, Island selectmen and planning board members, and representatives from the Massachusetts Fisheries and Habitat Working Groups and BOEMRE also have been invited to attend.

For more information, contact the MVC at 508-693-3453.