The US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has initiated two actions advancing the federal wind leasing process offshore California.
First, BOEM has published a call for information and nominations for public inputs and to determine interest in developing offshore wind in two new areas within a 642-square-km area off central California, identified as the Morro Bay Call Area East and West Extensions.
The new areas are adjacent to the Morro Bay Call Area, originally identified by BOEM in 2018.
The extension areas will be included in BOEM’s overall analysis of the Morro Bay 399 Area.
Second, BOEM has formally designated the Humboldt wind energy area offshore northern California and will now proceed with an environmental review of this area, as required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
BOEM director Amanda Lefton said: “Today’s announcement builds on an earlier agreement between the White House, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Defense, and the state of California to advance areas for offshore wind off the northern and central coasts of California.
“If approved for offshore wind energy development, these areas could bring us closer to reaching this administration’s goal of deploying 30GW of offshore wind by 2030.”
Publication today of the Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Morro Bay, California, East and West Extensions – Call for Information and Nominations in the Federal Register initiates a 45-day public comment period.
BOEM will accept nominations and comments until 13 September.
BOEM’s environmental assessment of the Humboldt area will consider potential environmental consequences of site characterisation activities and site assessment associated with issuing wind energy leases.
The assessment will also consider project easements associated with each potential lease issued, and grants for subsea cable corridors through state tidelands.