The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) are holding a public information meeting in New Bedford today, July 17, about proposed offshore wind energy projects in the Massachusetts-Rhode Island wind energy area.

The purpose of the meeting is to receive public comment on the bureau’s environmental assessment of offshore wind energy projects and to discuss the next steps in the leasing process, according to a press release. The meeting will run from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, 185 MacArthur Drive in New Bedford.

State and federal officials will participate in the meeting, which will include a presentation by BOEM, followed by a public comment period.

Earlier in the day, the habitat working group will meet from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and the fisheries working group will meet from 4 to 5:30 p.m., both at the New Bedford City Hall, 133 William street, Room 314. The groups, created by the EEA, were created to keep the public informed about the development process.