[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 81637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32672]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement


Commercial Lease for the Cape Wind Energy Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, 
Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (``NOA'') of a Commercial Lease of 
Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer 
Continental Shelf (``OCS'') for the Cape Wind Energy Project.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to its authority under the Outer Continental Shelf 
Lands Act (``OCSLA''), 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., as amended; and the 
Renewable Energy and Alternate Uses of Existing Facilities on the Outer 
Continental Shelf Rules, 30 CFR part 285 (``Rule''), BOEMRE has issued 
a Commercial Lease (``Lease'') for an area of approximately 46 square 
miles on the OCS in Nantucket Sound off the coast of Cape Cod, 
Massachusetts. This NOA is being published to announce the availability 
of the Lease in accordance with the requirements of 30 CFR 285.231. The 
Lease is for the Cape Wind Energy Project (``Project'') which grants 
Cape Wind Associates, LLC, (``CWA'') the exclusive right to conduct 
certain activities within the leased area, subject to the terms and 
conditions of the Lease, and applicable laws and regulations. The Lease 
requires CWA to pay $88,278 in annual rent prior to production, and a 
two to seven percent operating fee rate following the start of 
production during the 33-year lease (a 5-year site assessment term and 
a 28-year commercial operations term). The rent and operating fee are 
based on the requirements set forth in 30 CFR part 285, subpart E. The 
Project plan calls for 130 wind turbines capable of generating a 
maximum electric output of 468 megawatts with an anticipated average 
output of 183 megawatts. Construction and operation of the Project 
cannot begin until BOEMRE reviews and approves plans submitted by CWA 
that detail construction and operation of the Project in accordance 
with the Rule.

    Authority: The NOA of the Lease issuance is published pursuant 
to 30 CFR 285.231.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Cape Wind Energy Project Description

    The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (``EPAct'') and amendments to the 
OCSLA gave the Secretary of the Department of the Interior the 
authority to issue leases, easements, and rights-of-way for renewable 
energy activities on the OCS. The Secretary delegated this authority to 
BOEMRE, formerly the Minerals Management Service. Following passage of 
EPAct in 2005, CWA submitted an application for Project to BOEMRE. In 
2009, BOEMRE finalized the Rule that governed the issuance of leases, 
easements, and rights-of-way and the regulation of offshore renewable 
energy activities.
    The Project plan calls for 130 3.6 megawatt wind turbine 
generators, each with a maximum blade height of 440 feet, to be 
arranged in a grid pattern on the OCS in Nantucket Sound. The 
transmission cables for the Project, if approved, would pass through 
Massachusetts' submerged lands. With a maximum electric output of 468 
megawatts and an average anticipated output of 183 megawatts, the 
Project is expected to generate electricity equivalent to three-
quarters of the Cape and nearby islands' electricity needs. Each of the 
130 wind turbine generators would generate electricity independently. 
Solid dielectric submarine inner-array cables from each wind turbine 
generator would interconnect within the array and terminate on an 
electrical service platform (``ESP''), which would serve as the common 
interconnection point for all of the wind turbines. The Project plan 
calls for a submarine transmission cable system approximately 12.5 
miles in length from the ESP to a landfall location in Yarmouth, 
Massachusetts (7.6 miles of which would fall within the state of 
Massachusetts' jurisdiction).

Availability of the Lease:

    To obtain a single printed copy of the Lease, you may contact 
BOEMRE, Office of Offshore Alternative Energy Programs (Mail Stop 
4090), 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. An electronic 
copy of the Lease is available at BOEMRE's Web site at: http://www.boemre.gov/offshore/RenewableEnergy/CapeWind.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 
Regulation and Enforcement, Ms. Maureen A. Bornholdt, Program Manager, 
Office of Offshore Alternative Energy Programs, MS 4090, 381 Elden 
Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817, (703) 787-1300.

    Dated: December 20, 2010.
L. Renee Orr,
Acting Associate Director for Offshore Energy and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2010-32672 Filed 12-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P