Federal government eyeing multiple offshore wind energy sites
Washington, D.C. – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is planning up to seven new offshore lease sales by 2025 to meet the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal to deploy 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy by 2030.
Sites under consideration are in the Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, Central Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico, as well as offshore of the Carolinas, California, and Oregon.
BOEM is working on refining its process for identifying additional wind energy areas that may be suitable for offshore wind energy leasing. In addition, it is developing clear goals, objectives, and guidelines that can be shared with government agencies, tribes, industry, ocean users, and others prior to identifying such areas.
The agency is reviewing nine construction and operations plans (COPs) with a goal of completing the review of at least another six by 2025, for a total of at least 16 COP reviews representing more than 19 GW of clean energy.