Go big on offshore wind

To the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,

The Central Atlantic region boasts some of America's best offshore wind potential. It's time we tap into it.

As BOEM manages the leasing process in federal waters off the coasts of North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, please:

• Optimize the lease area to maximize clean energy potential,
• Proceed quickly while ensuring transparency and environmental responsibility,
• Establish standards to ensure the environmental integrity of offshore wind projects and to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to marine ecosystems and wildlife.

According to Environment America Research & Policy Center's 2021 report, Offshore Wind for America, each of these four states has enough offshore wind technical potential to more than meet its electricity use. Now is the time to take advantage of a massive and underutilized energy resource off our coasts to reduce our dependence on polluting fossil fuels.

Please go big on offshore wind.

Sincerely,