The U.S. Department of the Interior (DoI) has unveiled plans for an offshore wind lease sale in the Central Atlantic, featuring areas off the coasts of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
The proposed lease sale encompasses two distinct areas: Lease Area A-2, spanning 101,443 acres approximately 26.4 nautical miles from Delaware Bay, and Lease Area C-1, covering 176,505 acres roughly 35 nautical miles from the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is now inviting public comments to determine which, if any, of these two lease areas should be included in the upcoming lease sale scheduled for the next year. Both areas collectively hold the potential to generate clean energy capable of powering over 2.2 million homes.
BOEM collaborated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science to develop a comprehensive, ecosystem-based ocean planning model. This model played a pivotal role in the selection of the final Wind Energy Areas (WEAs).
Secretary Deb Haaland emphasized the commitment of the Department of the Interior to advancing the nation's offshore wind industry. She stated, “Since the start of our administration, the Department of the Interior has approved the nation's first six commercial-scale offshore wind energy projects. Today's announcement is another step forward in the Biden-Harris administration's pursuit of a clean energy future.”
Haaland underscored the administration's dedication to leveraging American innovation to provide reliable, affordable power to homes and businesses while concurrently addressing the pressing challenges posed by the climate crisis.
The proposed offshore wind lease sale aligns with the broader national strategy to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources and marks a noteworthy development in the Biden-Harris administration's efforts to promote sustainable and renewable energy initiatives.
