BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein: ““The completion of our environmental review is an important step forward to advance clean energy development in a responsible manner while promoting economic vitality and well-paying jobs in the Gulf of Mexico region.”
The U.S. Department of the Interior mentioned right this moment that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will maintain the first-ever offshore wind vitality lease sale within the Gulf of Mexico on August 29, 2023.
The areas to be auctioned have the potential to generate roughly 3.7 GW and energy nearly 1.3 million properties.
The Final Sale Notice (FSN) features a 102,480-acre space offshore Lake Charles, Louisiana, and two areas offshore Galveston, Texas, one comprising 102,480 acres and the opposite 96,786 acres. The FSN supplies detailed details about the ultimate lease areas, lease provisions and circumstances, and public sale particulars. It additionally identifies certified firms who can take part within the lease public sale. Details on the FSN, together with a map of the realm are posted on BOEM’s web site.
Earlier this yr, the Department introduced the Proposed Sale Notice for offshore wind vitality growth within the Gulf of Mexico. During the 60-day remark interval, BOEM acquired feedback on a number of lease stipulations that, it says, helps its dedication to interact with underserved communities, ocean customers and different stakeholders.
Some of those stipulations, that are a part of the FSN, embody:
- Bidding credit to bidders who decide to supporting workforce coaching packages, growing a home provide chain for the offshore wind vitality trade,
- Bidding credit for establishing and contributing to a fisheries compensatory mitigation fund or contributing to an current fund to mitigate potential detrimental impacts to industrial and for-hire leisure fisheries brought on by offshore wind vitality growth within the Gulf of Mexico, and
- Requiring that lessees present an everyday progress report summarizing engagement with tribes and ocean customers doubtlessly affected by proposed offshore wind vitality actions.
“Today’s announcement marks another historic step in the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to create a clean energy future. By catalyzing the offshore wind energy potential of the Gulf of Mexico, we can tackle the climate crisis, lower energy costs for families and create good-paying jobs,” mentioned Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.
“The Gulf of Mexico is poised to play a key role in our nation’s transition to a clean energy future,” mentioned BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “Today’s announcement follows years of engagement with government agencies, states, ocean users, and stakeholders in the Gulf of Mexico region. We look forward to continued collaboration in the years to come.”
The lease sale introduced right this moment follows the Biden administration’s third approval earlier this month of a commercial-scale, offshore wind vitality challenge within the United States and is a part of the leasing path introduced by Secretary Haaland in 2021.
BOEM expects to overview at the very least 16 Construction and Operations Plans of business, offshore wind vitality services by 2025, which might symbolize greater than 27 GW of fresh vitality.
NOIA HAILS “SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE“
National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) President Erik Milito issued the next assertion following the announcement of the date for the Gulf of Mexico offshore wind lease sale:
“Today’s announcement marks a major milestone within the development of the U.S. offshore wind sector. The Gulf of Mexico has lengthy been esteemed as a premier offshore vitality hub, spearheading the best way with low-carbon barrels of oil. This achievement underscores the area’s historical past of unwavering innovation and management. The introduction of latest offshore wind lease gross sales, mixed with the resumption of a long-term oil and gasoline leasing program, can set up a stable basis for the continued prosperity of the Gulf of Mexico’s distinctive and invaluable vitality portfolio.
“The outstanding synergy between offshore oil and gasoline and offshore wind is clear, and NOIA member firms have performed a pivotal function in growing and developing each offshore oil and gasoline initiatives and offshore wind initiatives. With the introduction of offshore wind within the Gulf Coast, quite a few native firms will now have the chance to actively take part within the development of latest wind initiatives nearer to residence.
“The American offshore energy sector significantly benefits Americans from all walks of life, and this relationship will only grow stronger with new offshore wind opportunities. We are thrilled about the potential of offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico.”
