Utility Southern Company has submitted plans for a five-year lease of three blocks totalling 70 square kilometres on the outer continental shelf at 6-20 kilometres from Tybee island. The Atlantic waters in the area are 12-20 metres deep.
The project will assess the feasibility of developing offshore wind resources after the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimated an offshore wind potential of 60GW within 93 kilometres off the Georgia coast.
The plans include the installation of a fixed meterological tower or Axys WindSentinel buoys to collect wind and environmental data.
BOEM is now seeking public opinion on the plans and EA before making a decision on whether to conduct further assessment on the area.
Southern submitted its application to lease the area in April 2011. BOEM issued a notice of intent to prepare an assessment in December last year.
It revealed that Port Wentworth will be the most likely port to be used by vessels involved in the construction and maintenance of the project.
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