US regulators expect to take the next steps this summer for offshore wind leasing along the coast of South Carolina.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is reviewing the financial and technical qualifications of two wind companies that responded to a call in late 2015.
US Wind and Fishermen’s Energy are both interested in the largest area, the Grand Strand zone at the northern tip of the state.
Fishermen’s also nominated the Cape Romain, Winyah and Charleston call areas.
BOEM looked over the applications and requested additional information. “We’re conducting our final review and I believe we’ll have a determination on the qualifications this summer,” BOEM project coordinator Casey Reeves said at a task force meeting on 17 May.
If BOEM finds there is only one qualified developer interested in certain areas the agency will ask for acquisition fees of 25 cents an acre and conduct environmental assessments.
If competitive interest continues for the Grand Strand call area, the bureau will complete area identification and environmental reviews and then move ahead with an auction process.
BOEM recently incorporated two proposed wind energy areas in North Carolina into the South Carolina leasing process because of concerns over wake effect, visual impacts and an expansion of the North Atlantic right whale critical habitat.
The 51,600-acre Wilmington West and 133,600-acre Wilmington East tracts have been combined with the much larger 628,000-acre Grand Strand lease area.
In North Carolina BOEM expects to launch this summer a draft proposed sale notice and call for interest for the 122,400-acre Kitty Hawk area. If more than one developer steps up, an auction will likely be held in 2017.
Image: BOEM
Summer signal for SC offshore
BOEM to complete review of US Wind and Fishermen's Energy's interest
By EBS