Sponsors (2)
The bill protects a specific Maine lobster fishery and associated coastal jobs by permanently blocking offshore wind leasing in that area and mandating a rapid GAO review, at the cost of forgoing local renewable energy development and narrowing federal siting flexibility.
Commercial fishermen and shoreside businesses in Lobster Management Area 1 retain exclusive access and permanent protection for high-value lobster and shellfish grounds, helping preserve local jobs and cultural heritage tied to New England fisheries.
Taxpayers and the public gain a consolidated, independent GAO review of federal environmental review processes for Gulf of Maine wind projects within 120 days, increasing transparency about ecological and procedural concerns.
Regional workers and taxpayers lose potential local clean energy generation, related jobs, and private investment because bans on commercial offshore wind in the area block renewable energy development there.
Federal employees and taxpayers face reduced federal flexibility and a precedent that overrides the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing authority, complicating long-term national energy siting and planning.
Coastal communities may see displaced environmental and economic impacts as offshore wind development pressure shifts to other locations outside the protected area rather than being avoided overall.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits federal authorization for commercial offshore wind in Lobster Management Area 1 and orders a GAO study on federal environmental review processes for Gulf of Maine projects within 120 days.
Introduced January 23, 2025 by Jared Golden · Last progress January 23, 2025
Prohibits any federal authorization for commercial offshore wind development inside Lobster Management Area 1 (as defined in 50 C.F.R. §697.18). It also orders the Comptroller General to finish a study within 120 days assessing whether NOAA Fisheries, BOEM, and other federal agencies’ environmental review processes for Gulf of Maine offshore wind projects (as in effect on enactment) are sufficient, covering ecological, economic, cultural, and procedural topics.