Gulf of Maine wind farm plans announced [Video]

MAINE, USA — Federal officials announced Friday they have identified a 2-million-acre swath of the Gulf of Maine for a commercial wind farm.

The designated area ranges from about 23 to 93 miles off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said the area is 80% smaller than the initial proposal and avoids lobstering areas, tribal fishing grounds, and the habitat of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.

“(The bureau) is committed to maintaining strong collaboration with the states of Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire as we advance our efforts in the Gulf of Maine,” BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein said in a statement. “We remain dedicated to engaging with Tribal governments, federal and state agencies, ocean stakeholders, coastal communities, and all interested parties as we progress through our environmental …