The US Department of the Interior has announced two proposals for offshore wind energy auctions off the coast of Oregon and in the Gulf of Maine.
The two sales proposed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will have the potential to generate more than 18GW of offshore wind energy, enough to power more than 6m homes.
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, totalling nearly 4,046 sq km which have the potential to generate approximately 15GW of renewable energy and power more than 5m homes.
BOEM is proposing to conduct simultaneous auctions for each of the eight lease areas using multiple-factor bidding. The Bureau is also seeking comments 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.
The proposed lease sale in Oregon includes two lease areas totalling 789 sq km — one in the Coos Bay Wind Energy Area and the other in the Brookings Wind Energy Area.
During the Biden administration, the Department of Interior held four offshore wind lease auctions, including sales in the New York – New Jersey region, offshore the Carolinas, and the first-ever sales offshore the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts.
Last week, the Interior announced a new five-year offshore wind lease schedule, which includes up to 12 potential offshore wind energy lease sales through 2029. Future offshore wind energy lease sales from BOEM are anticipated in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, and the waters offshore of the U.S. territories in the next five years.
