New England lobstermen and fishery experts are taking aim at the Biden administration’s latest moves to expand offshore wind energy projects, claiming that they are “rushing” to “political proof” a green energy plan insulated from a possible administration change in November.
The New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA), a fishing advocacy group that represents wild harvesters in fisheries across New England, filed a public comment on Wednesday with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) opposing the agency’s recently unveiled plans to lease 2 million acres of ocean for offshore wind development. It’s an unprecedented leasing area that would allot for construction of enough wind turbines to produce 32 gigawatts (GW) of energy.
NEFSA, along with Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA), say the administration’s plans are detrimental to the commercial fishing industry and marine life in the Gulf of Maine.
They also say the plans are rushed and being constructed in such a way as to insulate …