Abstract
New England Wind is the proposal to develop offshore renewable wind energy facilities in Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Lease Area OCS-A 0534 along with associated offshore and onshore cabling, onshore substations, and onshore operations and maintenance (O&M) facilities. Lease Area OCS-A 0534 is within the Massachusetts Wind Energy Area identified by BOEM, following a public process and environmental review, as suitable for wind energy development. Park City Wind LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avangrid Renewables, LLC, is the Proponent of this Construction and Operations Plan (COP) and will be responsible for the construction, operation, and decommissioning of New England Wind.
The Proponent is committed to developing an appropriate benthic habitat monitoring plan (BHMP) for the Project in consultation with federal and state agencies. The framework for the plan, as presented herein, provides a guide for additional agency consultations. The Proponent intends to continue to work cooperatively with federal and state agencies during the permitting process to develop a final plan.