Permitting -- state and federal consistency

Presentation Description: State and federal permitting of offshore wind involves working with a myriad of regulatory agencies. For example, the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council jumped to the forefront in developing a detailed regulatory process for the ocean that includes offshore wind developments. In addition, at the federal level, the federal consistency process adds another layer of review in which state agencies participate. With the federal consistency reviews, permitting offshore wind has become an interesting area of the law because we have an older statute - the Coastal Zone Management Act -- being applied to new and emerging energy technology. That Act gives states that border coastal areas, including the Great Lakes, a say in federal processes and projects that are going to occur in or impact state waters. These are complicated processes to navigate and ones in which experience counsel and experts are needed for successful permitting. For this presentation, Robin Main suggests presenting as a moderator and panelist. Robin Main would provide legal insights and discussion of permitting of offshore wind including Block Island windfarm and federal consistency reviews of offshore projects. She would include on the panel another attorney involved in such work, as well as experts whom she uses for work on permitting of offshore wind.