Much attention continues to be focused on wind farm development in Vineyard waters allowed under the Massachusetts Oceans Act. Monday, November 23rd is the deadline for public testimony on the draft management plan implementing the Act. We urge your participation! Development of wind turbines, mining, and for other activities in the Vineyard’s off-shore environment is provided for under the Massachusetts Oceans Act, signed into law in 2008.

• A draft management plan implementing the Act is in the final stages of refinement, with a public testimony deadline on Monday, November 23rd.
• Waters southwest of Nomans and Cuttyhunk are designated for commercial development of up to 166 wind turbines. *VCS voiced deep concerns about the environmental, scenic, and cultural impacts of such development.
• Off-shore municipal jurisdiction extends out three miles. Development of wind turbines within this area will be reviewed by the MV Commission as Developments of Regional Impact (DRI).
• The MV Commission’s enabling statute requires that developers may appeal such DRI decisions through the Massachusetts court system. Under the Oceans Act, appeals are instead directed to a politically appointed Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) charged with fast-tracking renewable energy projects.
• VCS, Island citizens and leadership raised concerns that this would undermine the power of the MV Commission in a fundamental and unacceptable way.
• The state has now provided assurances that the MVC will have complete authority to approve, disapprove and condition projects within its jurisdiction, provided they are less than 100 megawatts in size (equivalent of about 30 large wind turbines).
• However, for wind projects of more than 100 megawatts in size, developers can still appeal a DRI decisions directly to the EFSB. Uncertainty therefore remains about the practical effects of the state’s recent assurances.
• More problematic is the fact that wind development projects off Cuttyhunk appear to fall outside the area of MV Commission jurisdiction altogether. This vista from Gay Head is where greatest concerns have been voiced about environmental, scenic, and cultural impacts.

Public comments on the draft plan must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 23.

CLICK HERE> For the Public Input page

Submit written comments to: Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Re: Draft Ocean Management Plan 251
Causeway Street, Suite 800
Boston, MA 02114

CLICK HERE> For the Draft Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan website for links to the two-volume draft plan and all maps and figures.

CLICK HERE> For a full sized map of the proposed renewable energy areas, including adjacent federal waters