FILE PHOTO: Teun van den Dries / Shutterstock
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the completion of its final Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding the potential impacts of issuing leases for offshore wind energy development off the Oregon coast.
The assessment, which includes site assessment and site characterization activities such as geophysical, geological, and archaeological surveys, concluded that the issuance of leases would have no significant impact on people or the environment.
BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein emphasized the use of the best available science and collaboration with various stakeholders to shape environmental analysis for offshore wind activities. “Working with Tribes, government partners, ocean users, and the public, we gathered a wealth of data, diverse perspectives, and valuable insights that shaped our environmental analysis. We remain committed to continuing this close coordination to ensure potential offshore wind energy leasing and any future development in Oregon is done in a way that avoids, reduces, or mitigates potential impacts to ocean users and the marine environment,” she said.
The Biden-Harris administration’s Department of the Interior has approved nine commercial-scale offshore wind energy projects and conducted four offshore wind lease auctions. These include sales offshore New York, New Jersey, the Carolinas, the Pacific, and the Gulf of Mexico. BOEM is also exploring further opportunities in the Gulf of Maine and U.S. Territories, while promoting union-built projects and a domestic supply chain.
The Department of the Interior announced a proposed offshore wind lease sale for two Wind Energy Areas in Oregon, with the sale expected later this year and a final sale notice to be published at least 30 days in advance. The two lease areas, the Coos Bay Wind Energy Area and the the Brookings Wind Energy Area, totaling 194,995 acres, would be optimal for floating offshore wind turbines, and could potentially power over one million homes.
Leases from the sale do not authorize offshore wind facility construction but allow lessees to submit project plans for BOEM review. BOEM will develop Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) for proposed projects, consulting with Tribes, government agencies, stakeholders, ocean users, and the public before approving construction and operations plans.
In May of this year, BOEM published its draft EA assessing the potential impacts associated with issuing wind energy leases offshore Oregon. The public comment period for the draft EA was extended at the request of several commenters before concluding in June.
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