The US Department of the Interior (DOI) recently announced two proposals for offshore wind energy auctions off the coast of Oregon and in the Gulf of Maine.
The DOI said the two sales proposed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) have the potential to generate more than 18 GW of offshore wind energy, which is enough to power more than six million homes.
The announcement is part of the US federal government's commitment to expand offshore wind opportunities, building on investments made by President Joe Biden's Investing in America agenda to develop a clean energy economy and make communities more resilient.
The proposed sales reflect a multi-year planning process that has included robust engagement with Tribes, local communities, federal and state agencies, ocean users, and stakeholders to balance the complex social, ecological, and economic factors.
BOEM's strategic partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science has enhanced this process and incorporated the best available ocean resource information to inform wind energy areas. In identifying these areas, BOEM prioritised avoidance of offshore fishing grounds and identification of vessel transit routes, while retaining sufficient acreage to support the region's offshore wind energy goals.
These efforts are designed to set an informed foundation to deconflict multiple ocean uses in areas of future offshore wind energy development.
The first-ever offshore wind energy auction in the Gulf of Maine Wind Energy Area would include eight lease areas offshore Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, totaling nearly one million acres (404,685 hectares), which have the potential to generate approximately 15 GW of clean, renewable energy and power more than five million homes.
BOEM is seeking feedback on various aspects of the proposed lease areas, including size, orientation and location of the eight lease areas and which areas, if any, should be prioritised for inclusion or exclusion from this lease sale.
BOEM is proposing to conduct simultaneous auctions for each of the eight lease areas using multiple-factor bidding. BOEM is seeking comment on providing bidding credits to bidders that commit to supporting workforce training programs or supply chain development, or a combination of both, as well as a credit for a fisheries compensatory mitigation fund.
BOEM is also seeking comment on potential lease stipulations regarding vessel transit and baseline environmental monitoring. Like recent leases in other regions, BOEM is proposing lease stipulations to ensure that any future leaseholders consider and engage potentially affected stakeholders and communities, including Tribes, historically underserved communities, and the fishing industry, early and often throughout the offshore wind energy development process.
The proposed lease sale in Oregon includes two lease areas totaling 194,995 acres — one in the Coos Bay Wind Energy Area and the other in the Brookings Wind Energy Area — which have the potential to power more than one million homes with clean renewable energy.
Along with the proposed lease sale, BOEM has released its draft environmental review of potential impacts associated with offshore wind energy leasing activities for public review and comment.
BOEM is seeking feedback on several proposed lease stipulations that would reaffirm its commitment to continue robust engagement with Tribal governments, the fishing industry, affected communities, and other ocean users.
Potential stipulations for the proposed Oregon sale include providing bidding credits to bidders that commit to supporting workforce training programs for the floating offshore wind energy industry, developing a domestic supply chain for the floating offshore wind industry, or a combination of both. The proposal also includes providing bidding credits to bidders who commit to executing community benefit agreements with Tribes, local communities, ocean users, or stakeholder groups expected to be affected by potential impacts from activities resulting from lease development.
