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
- 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
- Sept 2021 letter to California State Lands Commission on Vandenberg Wind Energy Project
- Sept 2021 letter to BOEM on Humboldt Bay Wind Energy Area
- Sept. 2020 letter to California Energy Commission on wind energy project siting
- January 2019 letter to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on offshore wind lease nominations
- 2013 letter to DOE on offshore wind
Council marine planning documents
- May 2022 letter to BOEM on Morro Bay Wind Energy Area draft Environmental Assessment
- C.2.a, Supplemental MPC Presentation 1: Council Marine Planning (Conroy)
- 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
- Sept 2021 letter to California State Lands Commission on Vandenberg Wind Energy Project
- Sept 2021 letter to BOEM on Humboldt Bay Wind Energy Area
- H.5.a, Supplemental State Report 1 (CDFW, ODFW, WDFW and IDFG)
- Sept. 2020 letter to California Energy Commission on wind energy project siting
Upcoming events
(not hosted by the Council)
Useful links
Previous Council Meeting
June Council meeting
Vancouver, WA
Hilton Vancouver Washington 301 W. Sixth Street Vancouver, WA 98660 USA Phone: 360-993-4500
Upcoming Council Meeting
September Council meeting
Boise, ID
The Riverside Hotel 2900 Chinden Blvd Boise, ID 83714 Phone: 208-343-1871
Events

Contacts
Kerry Griffin
503-820-2409
kerry.griffin@noaa.gov