The U.S. Secretaries of the Interior, Energy, Commerce, and Transportation convened at the White House today for a forum with representatives from states, the offshore wind industry, and labor to support the advancement of U.S. offshore wind activity, and set a target of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030. In furtherance of the initiative, DOI plans to complete review of at least 16 Construction & Operations Plans by 2025, and NOAA will work with offshore wind developer Ørsted to share physical and biological data in U.S. waters leased by the company.
DOI also announced the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s identification of the final Wind Energy Areas in the New York Bight (~80,000 acres) and the agency’s intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on the construction and operations plan submitted by Ocean Wind, LLC for a wind energy facility off New Jersey.
Interior Sec. Deb Haaland said in part that “[a]s our country faces the interlocking challenges of a global pandemic, economic downturn, racial injustice, and the climate crisis – we must transition to a brighter future for everyone,” while National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy said that “[t]his commitment to a new, untapped industry will create pathways to the middle class for people from all backgrounds and communities.”
As to the developments surrounding the New York Bight, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary – Land and Minerals Management Laura Daniel-Davis said that the region “can play a central role in fighting climate change, helping states achieve their renewable energy targets and help create thousands of jobs,” while BOEM Director Amanda Lefton cited the need for the nation to “come together to ensure all potential development is considered and advanced responsibly, with transparency, robust stakeholder and tribal engagement and scientific integrity guiding our every move forward,” BOEM Director Amanda Lefton.
