The US Department of the Interior has announced it will hold an offshore wind energy lease sale in the Central Atlantic.
The areas to be auctioned on 14 August 2024, by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) could generate up to 6.3GW of clean, renewable energy and power up to 2.2 million homes.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said: “Across America’s coasts, we continue to see excitement and momentum for the Biden-Harris administration’s pursuit of a clean energy future.
“We are taking action to jumpstart America’s offshore wind energy industry and using American innovation to deliver reliable, affordable power to homes and businesses, while also addressing the climate crisis.
“As we do, we are working collaboratively with states, Tribes and stakeholders to ensure we are making smart decisions and efficient use of our nation’s offshore resources.”
BOEM director Elizabeth Klein (pictured) added: “We are excited to announce this sale and underscore our commitment to explore additional areas in the Central Atlantic for potential offshore wind energy development.
“BOEM will continue to work with all ocean users to ensure offshore wind energy proceeds in an environmentally responsible manner.”
The Final Sale Notice (FSN), which will publish in the Federal Register on June 29, 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 nautical miles (nm) from Delaware Bay. Lease Area C-1 consists of 176,505 acres and is approximately 35nm from the mouth of Chesapeake Bay.
Seventeen companies qualified to participate in the August sale.
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 lease areas.
The FSN contains detailed information about the areas available for leasing, certain lease provisions and conditions, auction details, criteria for evaluating competing bids, and procedures for lease award, appeals, and lease execution.
BOEM will also continue to convene the Central Atlantic Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force to enhance collaboration and to explore and identify potential additional areas for future offshore wind leasing.
These ongoing intergovernmental efforts include advancement of a December 2023 commitment and June 2024 Memorandum of Understanding that outline joint work by the Biden-Harris administration and the State of Maryland to evaluate additional areas off Maryland’s shores that could become wind energy areas and support the development of offshore wind projects.