Status of Offshore Wind Energy Development in the United States and the Area Identification Process

At present, there are fifteen active offshore wind energy commercial leases in the United States that are in various stages of site assessment and characterization, construction and operations planning, or plan review by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Prior to becoming a commercial wind energy lease, BOEM must identify areas for the competitive leasing process. Area Identification (Area ID) is a required step under the competitive offshore wind leasing process. Pursuant to 30 C.F.R. §585.211(b), the BOEM uses Area ID to identify areas for environmental analysis and consideration for leasing.

The goal of this process is to identify the offshore locations that appear most suitable for wind energy development. BOEM allows public involvement to inform the identification of areas. A successful Area ID campaign will result in an area with the greatest wind resource potential, minimal environmental and space use conflict, and possible alternatives for environmental analysis.

Based on the comments received to date, and considering the issues raised during stakeholder discussions, the following eight issues have been recurring as needing additional review and analysis during the Area ID process:

1. Visual Impacts
2. Maritime Safety/Navigation
3. Fish and Fishing
4. Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles
5. Avian
6. Radar
7. Cables, Pipelines and other Infrastructure
8. Wind Resource/Wake Effects

The goal of this oral presentation is to explain the status of offshore wind energy development on the U.S. outer continental shelf; and to provide a high-level overview of the wind resource and wake effects analysis that informs the Area ID process.