The Bureau of Ocean energy Management (BOEM) has finalised three areas off the central Atlantic coast to host up to 8GW of offshore wind capacity.
It has selected three areas with a combined area of 1,442km2: off the coasts of Delaware Bay, Delaware and Pennsylvania; Ocean City, Maryland; and Chesapeake Bay, Virginia (see below).
BOEM believes they could support 4-8GW of offshore wind capacity.
The sites have relatively shallow depths – most likely enabling the use of fixed-bottom foundations. However, BOEM stated that it may later identify additional central Atlantic wind energy areas in deeper waters.
BOEM stated that it had consulted tribal governments, state and federal agencies, and ocean users before selecting the three areas.
It is due to publish a notice of intent to prepare environmental assessments for the three central Atlantic areas tomorrow (1 August), starting a 30-day comment period. It will hold another comment period if it decides to move forward with a lease sale for any of the three areas.
The lease areas were selected from eight draft wind energy areas, encompassing some 6,880km2.
The size of the selections disappointed industry and some politicians.
Governor Roy Coooper of North Carolina said: "While this decision is extremely disappointing, it will not slow North Carolina's momentum in reaching our offshore wind energy goals as we transition to a clean energy economy."
The state has a goal of 2.8GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 8GW by 2040.
The Business Network for Offshore Wind (BNOW) said the selected lease areas are "substantial" yet "insufficient to meet current state goals."
"Already in the Central Atlantic, states have set targets for 21GW of offshore wind generation – a number that will only increase as Virginia's energy demands grow, states like Delaware enter the market, and other states work towards their own clean energy goals," said BNOW's vice president of strategic communications, Sam Salustro.
Maryland alone has a goal of 8.5GW of offshore wind by 2031.
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