The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has opened for public comment the draft environmental assessment for the up to 3GW Morro Bay Wind Energy Area off the US state of California.
The draft analysed potential impacts from future commercial leasing and related site characterisation and assessment activities within the Morro Bay, which is located approximately 32km off the central California coastline.
It considers potential environmental impacts and socio-economic effects from issuing offshore wind energy leases and related site characterisation and assessment activities within the area.
Site characterisation activities include geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological and biological surveys needed to develop specific project proposals on those potential leases.
Site assessment activities could include installation and operation of meteorological buoys.
The Morro Bay Wind Energy Area covers approximately 97,487 hectares.
Pacific office regional director Doug Boren said: “Public input on our environmental analysis and identified measures to avoid or reduce potential impacts from leasing activities is an important part of our process under the National Environmental Policy Act.
“BOEM will analyse and consider all comments before we finalize our analysis.”
Before approving the construction of any offshore wind energy facility on a potential future lease in the Morro Bay, BOEM will develop an Environmental Impact Statement to analyse the specific environmental consequences of constructing and operating such a facility, in consultation with Tribes and appropriate federal, state and local agencies and with participation by ocean users, stakeholders and the public.
BOEM is also requesting public comments related to potential impacts to historic properties from commercial leasing and site characterisation and assessment activities in the Morro Bay wind area.
This is part of BOEM’s National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 Programmatic Agreement with the State of California covering wind energy development offshore that state.
Interested parties have until 6 May to comment.