1st Offshore Wind Lease Sale in Gulf of Maine to Energy Greater than 4.5 Million Houses – CleanTechnica – Uplaza

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Lease areas have potential to energy over 4.5 million properties

WASHINGTON — The Division of the Inside at this time introduced it is going to maintain an offshore wind power lease sale on Oct. 29, 2024, for eight areas on the Outer Continental Shelf off Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. If absolutely developed, these areas have a possible capability of roughly 13 gigawatts of fresh offshore wind power, which might energy greater than 4.5 million properties. The announcement follows the Division’s current announcement that it has accredited greater than 15 gigawatts of fresh power from offshore wind initiatives because the begin of the Biden-Harris administration— equal to half of the capability wanted to realize President Biden’s aim of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030.

For the reason that begin of the Biden–Harris administration, the Division has held 5 offshore wind lease gross sales, together with a record-breaking sale offshore New York and gross sales offshore the Pacific, Central Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico, and accredited 10 commercial-scale offshore wind initiatives. Earlier this 12 months, Secretary Haaland introduced a schedule of potential extra lease gross sales via 2028.

“The growing enthusiasm for the clean energy future is infectious. Today’s announcement — which builds on the execution of the nation’s first floating offshore wind energy research lease in Maine last month — is the result of years of thoughtful coordination between our team, the Gulf of Maine states, industry and the Tribes and ocean users who share our interest in the health and longevity of our ocean,” stated Secretary Deb Haaland. “The Biden-Harris administration’s unwavering commitment to building a vibrant and sustainable offshore clean energy sector is strengthening our fight against the climate crisis and building a healthier, more resilient planet for generations to come.”

“The upcoming Gulf of Maine offshore wind energy auction reflects our all-of-government approach for reaching the Biden-Harris Administration’s energy goals while combatting the climate crisis,” stated BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “Together, we can do our part to facilitate a new American industry while fostering job growth and promoting equitable economic opportunities for all communities.”

The President’s Investing in America agenda is rising the American financial system from the center out and backside up – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to driving over half a trillion {dollars} in new personal sector manufacturing and clear power investments in america, to creating good-paying jobs and constructing a clear power financial system that can fight the local weather disaster and make our communities extra resilient.

Right now’s announcement is constructed upon the very best out there science, together with the Nationwide Facilities for Coastal Ocean Science’s ecosystem-based spatial suitability mannequin, in addition to over two

years of intensive engagement with Tribes, fishing pursuits, and stakeholders throughout the area. Data gained via this engagement, together with public feedback, was instrumental in figuring out the ultimate location, measurement and form of the eight lease areas.

The realm included within the Closing Sale Discover (FSN) is roughly 120,000 acres lower than what the Bureau of Ocean Power Administration (BOEM) included in its Proposed Sale Discover, which was introduced earlier this 12 months. BOEM prioritized the avoidance of offshore fishing grounds, delicate habitats, and present and future vessel transit routes, whereas nonetheless retaining ample acreage to assist the area’s offshore wind power objectives.

The FSN for the Gulf of Maine public sale contains particulars relating to the public sale, provisions, and circumstances of the leases, the lease kind, data on bidding credit, standards for evaluating competing bids, award procedures, attraction procedures, and lease execution. The FSN contains a number of lease stipulations designed to advertise the event of a sturdy home U.S. provide chain for floating wind and create good-paying union jobs, advance flexibility in transmission planning, reduce habitat impacts, and acquire information on protected marine mammals. The FSN will publish within the Federal Register on September 17, 2024.

The issuance of any lease ensuing from this sale doesn’t authorize the development and operations of an offshore wind facility. A lease offers the proper to submit project-specific plans. Such plans, if submitted, could be topic to environmental, technical, and public evaluations previous to a choice on whether or not the mission proposals needs to be accredited.

Particulars on the FSN, together with a map of the lease areas will be discovered on the BOEM’s web site.

Courtesy of US Division of the Inside.