Sponsors (2)
The bill protects local fishing access and forces a quick federal review of environmental review processes, but at the cost of permanently excluding a specific area from offshore wind development — reducing local clean-energy opportunities and possibly shifting costs or emissions elsewhere.
Gulf of Maine fishing communities keep access to Lobster Management Area 1 for commercial and recreational fishing, protecting livelihoods and local seafood businesses.
Tribal communities, marine life, and fisheries gain potential for better-informed future policy because the required GAO study must analyze specific ecosystem and cultural impacts (e.g., marine mammals, finfish, tribal resources).
Federal agencies and the public receive increased oversight and transparency because the bill requires a GAO study within 120 days to evaluate agency environmental review processes.
Regional residents, workers, and taxpayers lose potential clean-energy development and associated jobs because the bill permanently bans commercial offshore wind leasing in LMA1.
All Americans may see reduced potential greenhouse gas reductions because permanently prohibiting wind development in the excluded area limits future offshore wind capacity.
Developers, consumers, and taxpayers could face higher project costs or greater environmental impacts elsewhere because restricting leasing in this narrowly defined area may shift development to less-optimal locations.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 23, 2025 by Jared Golden · Last progress January 23, 2025
Prohibits any lease, license, permit, or other federal authorization for commercial offshore wind energy development in Lobster Management Area 1 (as defined by regulation) and directs the Comptroller General to produce a study within 120 days evaluating whether federal environmental review processes for Gulf of Maine offshore wind projects are sufficient. The required study must assess a broad list of environmental, ecological, economic, cultural, and procedural factors and examine how agencies identify and consult stakeholders and provide public comment opportunities.