Climate change, storms, flooding, wind power, the COVID-19 pandemic, public access, infrastructure, and numerous other issues hold potential to impact coastal communities in New England.
As the frequency and severity of coastal storms and other weather events increases, communities are facing increased pressure to confront climate change, sea level rise, and related issues.
Issues surrounding resiliency are challenges for many coastal communities. Reports and images in the news of flooding and weather-related damage are becoming more and more common.
Federal, state, and local governments are all tasked with addressing the effects of weather and climate driven events. Immediate actions are needed after events occur. In addition, governments must consider options for preventing or mitigating climate-related damage.
In recent years public access to coastal areas has declined steadily. Communities are under pressure to protect existing public access and create new facilities when possible.
Skyrocketing property values are complicating many of these issues. As waterfront properties increase in value, conflicts are inevitable.
Rapidly inflating property values can upend traditional patterns for residents and businesses. In some cases, businesses can no longer operate due to high operating costs. Businesses may also be impacted when workers are driven out of coastal communities by excessive housing costs.
Offshore renewable energy installations (OREIs) are another challenge facing coastal New England. An array of existing and planned OREI projects may affect coastal communities in a variety of ways.
Residents have presented a range of opinions concerning OREIs in New England.
Offshore wind proponents cite benefits including sustainable electricity, high quality employment opportunities, better infrastructure, and others.
Critics of offshore wind power projects have concerns about possible negative effects of wind turbines and associated equipment.
Recent Developments
In October 2023, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) identified a Draft Wind Energy Area (WEA) in the Gulf of Maine, opening a 30-day public review and comment period. The Draft WEA covers approximately 3,519,067 acres offshore Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
In November 2023, the New Bedford Port Authority received $24 million through the Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) for the Leonard’s Wharf Rehabilitation and Extension Project in the Port of New Bedford.
Leonard's Wharf has been identified in offshore wind industry studies and by offshore wind developers as a site that would greatly enhance New Bedford’s ability to stage offshore wind projects, as well as to serve as an operations and maintenance base.
In December 2023, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) completed its environmental review of the proposed Sunrise Wind energy project, which is located approximately 16.4 nautical miles (nm) south of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., approximately 26.5 nm east of Montauk, N.Y., and 14.5 nm from Block Island, R.I.
In December 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program announced the release of its "United States Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide."
In January 2024, the NOAA tide gauge at Bar Harbor, Maine observed its highest water level on record, reaching 4.33 feet above MHHW.
Related Information
New NOAA Facility on Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island
Coastal New England Facts
