During a speech at the American Clean Power’s Offshore WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition in Boston today, Interior Sec. Deb Haaland today announced a framework to meet the administration’s goal to develop 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.
Pursuant to the strategy, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management could hold up to 7 offshore wind lease sales by 2025 in the New York Bight (2022), North/South Carolina (2022), California (2022), Gulf of Mexico (2022), Central Atlantic (2023), Oregon (2023), and the Gulf of Maine (2024).
Haaland called the strategy “an ambitious roadmap” that “provides two crucial ingredients for success: increased certainty and transparency,” stating that “together, we will meet our clean energy goals while addressing the needs of other ocean users and potentially impacted communities.”
The announcement also noted that BOEM is refining the process for identifying areas that may be suitable for offshore wind energy leasing by developing clear goals, objectives, and guidelines to be shared with government agencies, tribes, industry, ocean users, and others before identifying those areas. In that regard, BOEM Director Amanda Lefton said that “we will engage early and often with all stakeholders prior to identifying any new Wind Energy Areas.”
Lastly, DOI said that BOEM is considering lease stipulations including reporting requirements on efforts to reduce conflicts with other ocean users, mechanisms for project labor agreements, and investments in the domestic supply chain.
