The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Tuesday, June 8, that it plans to assess potential opportunities to advance clean energy development in the Gulf of Mexico.
On Friday, June 11, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will issue a Request for Interest in the Federal Register to assess interest in the potential offshore wind development in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), according to a press release.
The plan is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to create thousands of jobs through the deployment of 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030.
“The Interior Department is committed to developing a robust and sustainable clean energy economy,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “We know that offshore wind development has the potential to create tens of thousands of good-paying, union jobs across the nation. This is an important first step to see what role the Gulf may play in this exciting frontier.”
The Department of the Interior says the RFI will be focused on the Western and Central Planning Areas of the Gulf of Mexico offshore the states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Although the primary focus of the RFI is on wind energy development, BOEM will reportedly also seek information on other renewable energy technologies.
“The Biden-Harris administration has energized the offshore wind industry by announcing the first ever national offshore wind energy goal, creating a roadmap for the future of this innovative industry,” said BOEM Director Amanda Lefton. “I’m excited to see the Gulf be a potential part of this historic effort.”
“The Gulf of Mexico has decades of offshore energy development expertise. Today’s announcement represents the first step in harnessing that expertise and applying it to the renewable energy sector,” said Mike Celata, regional director of BOEM’s Gulf of Mexico office in New Orleans. “Working directly with our partners in the Gulf, we will make sure that offshore renewable energy development proceeds in an orderly, safe, and environmentally responsible manner.”
To date, BOEM has leased approximately 1.7 million acres in the OCS for offshore wind development and has 17 commercial leases on the Atlantic, from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras.
Once published the department says the RFI will open a 45-day public comment period to solicit indications of competitive interest and additional information on potential environmental consequences and other uses of the proposed area. BOEM will consider data received in response to the RFI to determine next steps in the renewable energy leasing process in the Gulf of Mexico, the department says.
As part of this process, BOEM will convene the Gulf of Mexico Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force to help coordinate planning, solicit feedback, and exchange scientific and process information.
BOEM will hold its first task force meeting on June 15.
The task force comprises members representing federal, Tribal, state and local governments from Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.
For more information including a map depicting the RFI area, click here.
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