As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s objective to build 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030 and 15 GW of floating offshore wind by 2035, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has identified two draft Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) off the coast of Oregon.
The draft WEAs encompass around 219,568 acres offshore southern Oregon, with their closest points varying from about 18 to 32 miles off the coast, according to a news release from the BOEM on Tuesday. They would tap up to 2.6 GW of Oregon’s wind energy potential if approved.
The deep waters of the state’s coast, by the BOEM, present “significant opportunities for offshore wind deployment” and “opportunities to accelerate U.S. leadership in floating technologies” in the designated regions.
“As BOEM works to identify potential areas for offshore wind development, we continue to prioritize a robust and transparent process, including ongoing engagement with Tribal governments, agency partners, the fishing community, and other ocean users”, BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein said. “At the request of Oregon’s governor and other state officials, there will be a 60-day public comment period on the draft WEAs and BOEM will hold an intergovernmental task force meeting in addition to public meetings during the comment period. We look forward to working with the state to help us finalize offshore areas that have strong resource potential and the fewest environmental and user conflicts”.
To determine the potential offshore locations that seem most suitable for the development of floating offshore wind energy, taking into account potential impacts on local coastal and marine resources and ocean users, BOEM claimed it used a thorough process that involved outreach to potentially impacted stakeholders and ocean users, Tribes, and the general public.
BOEM Seeks Input on Draft WEAs off Oregon Coast
According to the press release, the organization worked with the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to implement an ocean planning model to identify and reduce conflicts.
The Department of the Interior issued the Oregon Call Area for public comment in April 2022; BOEM noted the two draft WEAs reflect adjustments based on public, stakeholder, and interagency participation.
The BOEM will convene open meetings to discuss the next stages and seek comments on the proposed WEAs through October 16. According to the press release, the organization will also call a meeting of the Oregon Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force to discuss the draft WEAs and the following steps in Oregon’s preparation for offshore wind energy.
You can also have access to current news and updates by clicking the links below:
- Stanford’s Future in the Pac-12 in Question as ACC Invite Looms
- Portland Heat Wave Continues, 2nd De@th Reported
According to a previous article by the Capital Press, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek wrote to the BOEM in June to request that the organization postpone finding and licensing offshore wind lands in the state while it fully assesses the effects on the economy and environment.
According to a second news release, the BOEM chose three final WEAs offshore of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia last month. These areas total about 356,550 acres and could accommodate between four and eight GW of energy output.
The 101,767-acre first WEA (A-2) lies 26 nautical miles (nm) from Delaware Bay. The second WEA (B-1) is 78,285 acres in size and is located 23.5 nautical miles from Ocean City, Maryland. The third WEA (C-1) is 176,506 acres and is 35 nautical miles off Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay coast.
You may count on us to keep you informed if there is a new update about this topic. In the meanwhile, if you visit our website focushillsboro, you will be able to read the most recent updates on stories that are linked to this topic.
