US Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced three developments in American offshore wind energy spanning from coast to coast. The Secretary announced a wind auction in federal waters off the coast of Massachusetts; an environmental review of a proposed wind project offshore Rhode Island; and the next steps to a first-ever wind auction in federal waters off of California.
Wind Auction Offshore Massachusetts
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will hold the next offshore wind auction, which will include almost 390,000 acres offshore Massachusetts, on December 13, 2018. Nineteen companies have qualified to participate in the auction.
Environmental Review of Wind Project Offshore Rhode Island
BOEM will publish a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Construction and Operations Plan for the South Fork Wind Project offshore Rhode Island.
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If approved, the plan will allow the construction and operation of up to 15 turbines that connect via a transmission cable to a grid in East Hampton, New York.
The project is approximately 19 miles southeast of Block Island. The notice will be published on October 19 and will have a 30-day public comment period closing on Nov. 19.
Call for Information and Nominations Offshore California
BOEM will publish a Call for Information and Nominations to identify companies interested in commercial wind energy leases within three proposed areas off central and northern California. This is the first step towards offering a location for wind leasing.
The three Call Areas include 85 whole Outer Continental Shelf blocks and 573 partial blocks and together comprise about 1,073 square miles (687,823 acres). The Call will be published on October 19 and will have a 100-day public comment period closing on January 27, 2019.
