The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has identified nearly 800,000 acres in the sea area known as the New York Bight as wind energy areas (WEAs) suitable for potential offshore wind leasing
The WEAs are in an area of shallow water between Long Island to the north and east and the New Jersey coast to the south and west. The areas have significant potential to help states meet their offshore energy goals, and will now be subject to a detailed environment assessment (EA).
The announcement came during a White House forum in which Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, and the Secretaries of Energy, Commerce, and Transportation, met with representatives from states, the offshore wind industry, and members of the labour community to identify challenges and solutions facing this new industry.
The event included a commitment by Interior and the Departments of Energy and Commerce to establish a target to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030, creating nearly 80,000 jobs, with a longer-term goal of 110 GW of offshore wind by 2050.
In a related development, the Department of Interior will immediately begin to prepare an environmental impact statement for the New Jersey Ocean Wind project. Secretary Haaland also announced a complete review of at least 16 offshore wind project plans by 2025. To support the domestic supply chain, the Department of Transportation identified US$230M for port infrastructure improvements. The Department of Energy is facilitating US$3Bn in loan support for the industry, and the Department of Commerce announced a new data-sharing agreement between industry and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a new grant to help study any impact on ocean management.
Principal deputy assistant secretary – land and minerals management Laura Daniel-Davis said, “Interior is working with agencies across the federal government to advance the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of increasing renewable energy development on federal lands and waters.
“Today’s announcement brings us one step closer to making this a reality. The New York Bight can play a central role in fighting climate change, helping states achieve their renewable energy targets and help create thousands of jobs.”
BOEM director Amanda Lefton said, “The full environmental and economic benefits of offshore wind can only be realised if we, as a nation, come together to ensure all potential development is considered and advanced responsibly, with transparency, robust stakeholder and tribal engagement and scientific integrity guiding our every move forward. A central component to our success will be creating greater certainty for industry, state and local governments, tribal nations and stakeholders.”
Responding to the announcement, American Clean Power Association chief executive Heather Zichal said, “This is an historic day for offshore wind energy in America. The Biden administration’s ambitious, but achievable goal of 30 GW by 2030 sets the stage for a brand-new home-grown energy industry that will slash carbon emissions, create 83,000 American jobs, and add US$25Bn in annual investments.
“Creating a stable policy platform for offshore wind development and facilitating the first wave of significant projects will provide certainty for the industry, strengthen the workforce, and revolutionise domestic supply chains up and down the coasts and across the country. Now is the time to seize on this once-in-a-generation opportunity.”
National Ocean Industries Association president Erik Milito said the announcement was “a win for the American people, the energy industry, and the environment.
“Providing new offshore wind opportunities, establishing permitting milestones, boosting critical investments into the supply chain, ports, and workers will provide a foundation for exceptional offshore wind growth. Offshore wind is truly a generational economic and energy opportunity, and one the Biden Administration is seizing,” Mr Milito said.
“We hope the Biden administration continues to build on the recent positive momentum for offshore wind. Adopting a regular and predictable offshore wind lease auction schedule and ensuring that BOEM has the resources it needs to progress these ambitious goals will clear the way for a vibrant US offshore wind industry.”
The goal of BOEM’s area identification process is to identify the offshore locations that appear most suitable for wind energy development taking into consideration coexistence with ocean users. As part of this process, BOEM removed areas of highest conflict from consideration. It received input from the public and other governmental agencies through a call for information and task force meetings as part of the process.
BOEM will now prepare an EA to consider potential environmental consequences of site characterisation activities (biological, archaeological, geological, and geophysical surveys and core samples) and site assessment activities, such as the installation of meteorological buoys, associated with issuing wind energy leases in the WEAs. The EA also considers project easements associated with each potential lease issued, and grants for subsea cable corridors in the New York Bight.
Business Network for Offshore Wind president and chief executive Liz Burdock said, “The level of agency co-operation is unprecedented and exactly what is required to achieve 30 GW of installed offshore wind and create jobs for Americans.
“The Network could not be more pleased with the level of commitment and focus the Biden administration is placing on offshore wind. Every small and medium-sized US business should look at diversifying into this sector – it’s not every day a company has the opportunity to get in at the ground level of the next great American industry.”
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