WASHINGTON — The U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published Wednesday two separate Calls for Information and Nominations for suitable areas for possible offshore wind leases off the coast of Oregon and in the Central Atlantic.
In the Atlantic Ocean near Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, BOEM is seeking information on six distinct areas comprising almost 3.9 million acres. The Oregon Call is the first action of its type off that part of the United States’ Pacific Coast. It requests information on two areas that together comprise more than 1 million acres.
Publication of the Call initiates a 60-day comment period during which the public can submit relevant information on site conditions, marine resources and ocean uses near or within the Call Areas.
New wind power installations in these two locations would help the Biden Administration achieve its goals of granting seven new offshore wind leases by 2025 and deploying 30GW of offshore wind in the United States by 2030. 30GW is enough electricity to power 10 million homes.
In response, Environment America Research and Policy Center’s Senior Director for 100% Renewable Energy Johanna Neumann released the following statement:
“America has abundant offshore wind potential. The sooner we tap it, the sooner we’ll have cleaner air and less global warming pollution.
“This announcement lays the groundwork for successful offshore wind leases off the Oregon coast and in the Central Atlantic, two regions that are natural sources for this clean, renewable energy. These areas have more than enough offshore wind potential to power their current and future on-land energy needs, even in a scenario where buildings, transportation and industry go all-electric by 2050.
“These announcements offer yet another avenue toward bringing clean, renewable energy to every corner of the United States. It’s high time we start harnessing our immense offshore wind potential and ending our dependence on dirty energy sources that pollute our air, causing tens of thousands of people to die prematurely each year.
“This announcement is an encouraging sign that 2022 is shaping up to be the most ambitious year for offshore wind in American history.”
