Offshore wind on the Pacific coast
Planning and development of offshore wind (OSW) energy generation in United States waters has accelerated greatly as a result of Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, issued January 27, 2021, and a related Administration action to deploy 30 Gigawatts of OSW energy by 2030. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is the lead Federal agency responsible for offshore energy exploration and development in the U.S. and has embarked on an ambitious effort to identify areas suitable for OSW development, and to auction off the rights to develop specific areas. The Council has engaged closely with BOEM to identify and minimize any potential impacts to fishing activities, habitats (including essential fish habitat), and coastal communities. On the West Coast, BOEM has identified potential OSW areas off California and Oregon.
Offshore wind
Correspondence
- August 2022 letter to BOEM on California Proposed Sale Notice
- July 2022 letter to NMFS on NOAA Aquaculture Opportunity Areas
- July 2022 letter to USCG from DeFazio and Graves re: USCG perceived lack of involvement in BOEM activities
- June 2022 letter to BOEM from DeFazio and Wyden re: Oregon Call Areas
- June 2022 letter to BOEM from DeFazio, et al
- May 2022 letter to BOEM on Morro Bay Wind Energy Area draft Environmental Assessment
- February 2022 Letter to Humboldt County Planning Department on Nordic Aquafarms California, LLC
- February 2022 letter to BOEM on Humboldt Wind Energy Area
- January 2022 letter to BOEM on Morro Bay Wind Energy Area
- January 2022 Letter to BOEM on Offshore Wind Fisheries Mitigation Guidance
Upcoming events
(not hosted by the Council)
- Ocean Renewable Energy Conference (Portland), September 14-15
- BOEM issues Proposed Sale Notice for commercial wind energy leasing off California
- BOEM Standardizes Process for Environmental Reviews of Offshore Wind Construction and Operations Plans
- BOEM Seeks Public Comment on Draft Fisheries Mitigation Strategy
In the news
- The U.S. Coast Guard has released the draft Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study (PAC-PARS) and requests public comments on the draft. View the documents here:
https://www.regulations.gov/document/USCG-2021-0345-0070 - New contra-rotating vertical turbine produces double the energy. Interesting Engineering.
- The California Energy Commission (CEC) and several California energy utilities will host a one-day hybrid symposium to explore the latest technology and policy innovations
- BBC News – Hornsea 2: North Sea wind farm claims title of world’s largest https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62731923
- Marine Mammal Risk Assessment for New England Offshore Windfarm Construction and Operational Scenarios
- Effect of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines on Atmospheric Circulation in California
- An ecosystem-based natural capital evaluation framework that combines environmental and socio-economic implications of offshore renewable energy developments
- Identification of Outer Continental Shelf Renewable Energy Space-Use Conflicts and Analysis of Potential Mitigation Measures
- NREL Tool Aims To Predict Interactions Between Soaring Eagles and Wind Turbines
- DOE Announces Federal-State Offshore Wind Supply Chain Partnership
- University of Delaware study looks to see if offshore wind farms would impact surface weather
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces $26 Million Program from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Demonstrate How U.S. Power Grid Can Run On 100% Clean Energy
- NOAA National Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Report
- OR Dept of Energy Summary of Key Findings Now Available for Floating Offshore Wind Study – July 2022.
- Seven fisheries surveys for New Jersey offshore wind project – 7/27/22 National Fisherman
- Senate bill passage buoys offshore wind developers – and oil – 8/9/22 National Fisherman
- More States Back Offshore Wind, Citing Economic Potential, – 7/28/22 Pew Trusts
- University of Delaware Study Finds New US Offshore Wind Farms Will Have no Significant Impact on Surface Weather – 7/18/22 OffshoreWind.biz
- On the cusp of a boom, U.S. floating wind gains traction 7/11/22 Marine Log
- The U.S. Offshore Wind Synthesis of Environmental Effects Research (SEER) effort recently published a new educational research brief, Electromagnetic Field Effects on Marine Life, on Tethys. Recordings from all SEER webinars are also available here.
- OES-Environmental recently published a new brochure, “Marine Renewable Energy: An Introduction to Environmental Effects”, with scientific information on the potential impacts of installation and operation of marine energy devices. More information here.
- Practical Approaches for Providing Empirical Data on Seabird Behavior and Prey Assemblages in Tidal Channels – Fraser et al. 2022
- Quantifying Background Magnetic Fields at Marine Energy Sites: Challenges and Recommendations – Grear et al. 2022
- Offshore Wind’s Turbulent Future – 7/28/22 Hakai Magazine
- Energy secretary, senators, governor tour Oregon State wave lab, learn about green energy
News & updates
- Marine Resource Education Program workshop series (2022-2023)
- Ad Hoc Marine Planning Committee to hold online meeting September 30, 2022
- Groundfish Advisory Subpanel to hold online meeting August 25, 2022
- Scientific and Statistical Committee Groundfish Subcommittee to hold online meeting August 11, 2022
Meeting Recordings
Previous Council Meeting
September Council meeting
Boise, ID
The Riverside Hotel 2900 Chinden Blvd Boise, ID 83714 Phone: 208-343-1871
Upcoming Council Meeting
November Council meeting
Orange County, CA
Hyatt Regency Orange County 11999 Harbor Blvd. Garden Grove, CA 92840 Phone: 714-750-1234
Events
Contacts
Kerry Griffin
503-820-2409
kerry.griffin@noaa.gov