Sponsors (2)
The bill protects a specific New England fishing area and local livelihoods and requires a rapid GAO review, at the cost of blocking potential regional offshore wind development and constraining federal leasing and planning flexibility.
Commercial lobster fishermen and shoreside small businesses in Lobster Management Area 1 retain exclusive access to current fishing grounds, helping preserve local jobs, income for low-income and small-business households, and regional fishing culture.
Taxpayers and the public gain a consolidated GAO review of federal environmental review processes for Gulf of Maine wind projects within 120 days, increasing transparency about ecological and procedural concerns for proposed offshore development.
Regional workers, taxpayers, and the broader public lose potential clean energy generation, related jobs, and private investment because the area is prohibited from commercial offshore wind leasing.
Federal employees and taxpayers face reduced federal flexibility and potential complications for long-term national energy planning because the prohibition overrides central OCS leasing authority (43 U.S.C. §1337).
Coastal communities and other coastal stakeholders may experience displaced environmental or economic impacts if offshore wind development is pushed into other areas rather than avoided overall.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits federal authorization of commercial offshore wind in Lobster Management Area 1 and requires a GAO study within 120 days on federal review adequacy and impacts.
Official title: To prohibit commercial offshore wind energy development in Lobster Management Area 1 in the Gulf of Maine, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 23, 2025 by Jared Golden · Last progress January 23, 2025
Prohibits any federal authorization for commercial offshore wind energy development within Lobster Management Area 1 in the Gulf of Maine and directs the Government Accountability Office to complete a 120‑day study evaluating whether NOAA Fisheries, BOEM, and other federal review processes for Gulf of Maine offshore wind projects (as of enactment) adequately assess ecological, economic, cultural, and procedural impacts. The GAO study must evaluate impacts on marine mammals, finfish, benthic resources, fisheries and shoreside businesses, air quality and greenhouse gases, Tribal and historic resources, essential fish habitat, plankton, recreation and tourism, fisheries‑dependent communities, and stakeholder consultation practices.