BOEM designates two wind energy areas off Oregon

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has finalized two offshore Wind Energy Areas in Oregon, supporting the Biden-Harris administration's goal of 15 GW of floating offshore wind energy capacity by 2035, the agency said Feb. 13.

BOEM said it would publish a notice in the Federal Register Feb. 14 announcing its intent to prepare an environmental assessment of potential impacts from offshore wind leasing in the WEAs. The notice will initiate a 30-day public comment period.

Another public comment period would occur if BOEM moves forward with a lease sale in either of the WEAs.

Oregon WEAs

If fully developed, the WEAs could support 2.4 GW of energy production, BOEM said.

The two WEAs total 195,012 acres and avoid 98% of the areas recommended for exclusion due to their importance as commercial fishing grounds, according to BOEM. The Coos Bay WEA, 32 miles from shore, totals 61,204 acres, and the Brookings WEA, about 18 miles from shore, totals 133,808 acres.

S&P Global Commodity Insights does not expect to see the first offshore wind turbines off Oregon until the mid-2030s, said Sam Huntington, a director on the S&P Global North American Power team.

"This is a positive and necessary step, in line with our long-term expectations for the region," Huntington said of BOEM's WEA announcement. "We will learn more about developer expectations when they hold the actual lease auction."

In October, BOEM extended the comment period for the two WEAs following feedback from Oregon tribes and stakeholders.

West Coast offshore wind

The first federal offshore wind energy lease auction in the Pacific region took place Dec. 6-7, 2022, for two lease areas of Northern California near Humboldt Bay and three lease areas off Central California near Morro Bay.

BOEM executed the five offshore wind leases off California in June 2023. The areas have the potential to produce more than 4.6 GW of offshore wind energy.

The Biden administration has a goal to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind power capacity by 2030.

Oregon House Bill 2021 requires investor-owned utilities and electricity service suppliers in the state to supply 100% greenhouse gas-free electricity by 2040.

Where it started

"Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of the Interior has approved the nation's first six commercial-scale offshore wind energy projects," BOEM said.

BOEM has hosted four offshore wind lease auctions that have garnered almost $5.5 billion in high bids, including a record-breaking sale off New York and New Jersey, and the first-ever sales off the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts, according to BOEM.

BOEM is exploring additional opportunities for offshore wind energy development in the US, including in the Gulf of Maine and the US Central Atlantic coast, according to BOEM. The department also continues to take steps to evolve its approach to offshore wind to drive toward union-built projects and a domestic-based supply chain.