The US Department of the Interior (DoI) has announced the proposal of an offshore wind lease sale in the Central Atlantic.
The proposed lease sale includes one area offshore the States of Delaware and Maryland, and one area offshore the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Lease Area A-2 consists of 101,443 acres and is approximately 26.4 nautical miles from Delaware Bay.
Lease Area C-1 consists of 176,505 acres and is approximately 35nm from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
BOEM is seeking public comments on which, if any, of the two lease areas should be offered in a lease sale next year.
These areas have the potential to power over 2.2m homes with clean energy.
BOEM partnered with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science to develop a comprehensive, ecosystem-based ocean planning model that assisted in the selection of the final WEAs.
“Since the start of our administration, the Department of the Interior has approved the nation’s first six commercial-scale offshore wind energy projects. Today’s announcement is another step forward in the Biden-Harris administration’s pursuit of a clean energy future,” said Secretary Deb Haaland.
“We are taking action to jumpstart America’s offshore wind industry and using American innovation to deliver reliable, affordable power to homes and businesses, while also addressing the climate crisis.”