Offshore energy in the Gulf of Maine presents a complex set of opportunities and trade-offs for coastal communities and industries in New Hampshire.
Our Role
New Hampshire Sea Grant is committed to encouraging community engagement, serving as an honest broker of information, and providing the best available science in the offshore energy development process.
NHSG serves as a bridge between our long-time partners in fishing communities, coastal community and municipal leaders, state and federal government, and industry interests.
This page will serve as a home for related links and resources gathered and/or created by New Hampshire Sea Grant staff related to offshore energy development in the Gulf of Maine.
Offshore Wind
Definition: Offshore wind energy is a technology that harnesses the power of wind, by converting the turning motion of blades, pushed by moving air (kinetic energy) into electrical energy (electricity).
Current Status in the Gulf of Maine
In 2024, following a multi-year siting process, four lease areas in the Gulf of Maine were awarded to two private companies by the Federal agency responsible for energy leases on the outer continental shelf, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
Leaseholder - Avangrid Renewables, LLC
Leaseholder - Invenergy NE Offshore Wind, LLC
Map of Current Lease Areas
This map shows the various projects and lease areas on all coasts, and the individual progress stage of each.
The New Hampshire Process
NH Commission to Study Offshore Wind and Port Development
From 2021 to 2025 and hosted by the NH Department of Energy, the Commission met to hear about the potential economic and environmental benefits and impacts of offshore wind development for the State of New Hampshire.
2023 Report prepared for NH Dept. of Energy by Normandeau Associates, Inc
Potential Environmental, Economic, and Energy Impacts in New Hampshire from Development of Offshore Wind in the Gulf of Maine.
NH PBS Mini-Series: Winds of change in the Gulf of Maine
NH Sea Grant and NH PBS present an educational series delving into the world of offshore wind energy. Explore the potential of the Gulf of Maine as a future site for floating wind turbines and learn about the complex regulatory process guiding their development.
Timeline of offshore wind energy development in the Gulf of Maine
This document visualizes the timelines of multiple development processes (federal and NH state) that occurred in parallel in the Gulf of Maine from 2022-2025. Last updated February 2025
Researching Potential Impacts
Groups in the Gulf of Maine and beyond are conducting research into potential impacts from development across a variety of content areas.
Regional to International Research Databases
Tethy's - Wind Energy and the Environment
Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative - Research Database
Responsible Offshore Science Alliance - FishFORWD Database
Research from the Northeast Sea Grant Consortium
Sea Grant Northeast - Fisheries and Offshore Wind Interactions RFP - 2024
Northeast Sea Grant Consortium - Ocean Renewable Energy Research Competition - 2021
Mitigating Potential Impacts
To prepare for possible impacts that can’t be mitigated at earlier stages of development (e.g., through avoidance, minimization, etc.), work is happening to plan for and/or mitigate impacts through compensation.
Fisheries
In January 2025, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published final guidance on “Reducing or Avoiding Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy on Fisheries."
Federal (BOEM) Fishery Mitigation Guidance
Eleven states partnered on the Fisheries Mitigation Project to establish a consistent fisheries compensatory mitigation process across the east coast. Beginning in 2025, the Regional Fund Administrator selected through the multi-state project is working to design a regional compensation program.
More Information on the Regional Compensation Program Design
More information on the project background
Coastal Municipalities
Where infrastructure intersects with coastal communities, communities are considering ways to mitigate local impacts through agreements with developers.
Columbia Law School - Community Benefits Agreements Database
Contact
Katy Bland
Engagement & Research Manager
katy@neracoos.org
