The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Feb. 13 announced the designation of two final Wind Energy Areas offshore Oregon.
The Wind Energy Areas were developed following extensive engagement and feedback from the state, Tribes, local residents, ocean users, federal government partners, and other members of the public, BOEM said.
The two Wind Energy Areas total approximately 195,012 acres. The Coos Bay Wind Energy Area is 61,204 acres and is located 32 miles from shore. The Brookings Wind Energy Area is 133,808 acres and is about 18 miles from shore. A map of the final Wind Energy Areas can be found on BOEM’s website.
BOEM said it planned to publish a notice in the Federal Register on Feb. 14 announcing its intent to prepare an environmental assessment of potential impacts from offshore wind leasing in the Wind Energy Areas.
The notice will initiate a 30-day public comment period. Another public comment period would occur if BOEM decides to move forward with a lease sale in either of the Wind Energy Areas.
On Aug.15, 2023, BOEM announced a public comment period on two draft Wind Energy Areas were located offshore southern Oregon.
The draft Wind Energy Areas covered approximately 219,568 acres, with their closest points to land ranging from approximately 18–32 miles.
The draft Wind Energy Areas represented a subset of the original 1,159,298 acres (1,811 square miles) that the Department of the Interior identified for public comment in April 2022.
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 has held four offshore wind lease auctions, which have brought in almost $5.5 billion in high bids, including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and New Jersey and the first-ever sales offshore the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts.
BOEM is exploring additional opportunities for offshore wind energy development in the U.S., including in the Gulf of Maine and the U.S. Central Atlantic coast.
For more information about Oregon activities, visit BOEM’s website.
