The Obama administration is asking tribes to comment on an environmental assessment for wind energy off the shores of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The assessment identifies 164,000 acres for potential development. The goal is to determine which areas are suitable for wind energy in order to speed up the federal leasing process.

“When it comes to wind energy, we’re making significant progress both onshore and offshore to diversify our nation’s domestic energy portfolio and stand up a clean energy economy,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a press release. “Today, as we take the next steps toward realizing what could be the largest wind energy project in the world and holding a competitive offshore wind lease sale, we are really at the forefront of a renewable energy revolution.”

Comments are due by August 2.

Get the Story:
Area offshore Mass., RI closer to seeing wind projects following US environmental assessment (AP 7/2)
Wind energy leases charted for Mass., R.I. (The Cape Cod Times 7/3)

Federal Register Notice:
Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts (July 3, 2012)