The U.S. Interior Department today announced the results of a federal offshore wind energy lease sale covering ~500,000 acres in the New York Bight, which attracted $4.37B in winning bids. DOI called the auction “a major milestone towards achieving the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of reaching 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.”
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said that the sale “makes one thing clear: the enthusiasm for the clean energy economy is undeniable and it’s here to stay,” adding that “[t]he investments we are seeing today will play an important role in delivering on the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to tackle the climate crisis and create thousands of good-paying, union jobs across the nation.”
DOI noted that the leases will include “innovative stipulations” that in part will “enhance engagement with Tribes, the commercial fishing industry, other ocean users and underserved communities.” It further noted that lessees will be required to “identify and make efforts to engage with Tribes, underserved communities, and other ocean users who could be affected by offshore wind energy development.”
DOI said it will “hold companies accountable for improving their engagement, communication and transparency with these communities” and that the requirements “are intended to promote offshore wind energy development in a way that coexists with other ocean uses and protects the ocean environment, while also securing our nation’s energy future for generations to come.”
