The Department of Interior (DoI) advanced reviews of the effects of offshore wind farms could have on the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and Pacific Ocean off northern California and paving the way for the industry to extend to the coastal regions. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced Jan. 11 it will study some 30M acres of ocean, extending from Louisiana and Texas coast to the Mexican border, for potential wind energy development. The studies lay the groundwork for advancing offshore wind projects in federal waters. In the Gulf of Mexico, environmental reviews will help the “feds” define areas that can best support offshore wind arrays, with the least impacts to industry, marine life and the environment. The GoM review will help “ensure that any development in the region is done responsibly and … avoids, reduces or mitigates potential impacts to the ocean and to ocean users,” said BOEM Director Amanda Lefton. If areas are established in the GoM, DoI could hold lease auctions. The Biden administration aims to approve 16 full-scale offshore wind farms by 2025. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards supports offshore wind projects, which could exist with oil and gas in the GoM by relying on its offshore expertise. The potential impacts of offshore wind projects are a concern to fishermen in the Northeast, where the first wind farms are being built. “Commercial fishermen should be considered partners and be meaningfully engaged throughout the process with a reasonable expectation of informing the result,” said Eric Brazer, deputy director of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance in Galveston, Texas. (Source: E&E News PM 01/11/22) Biden admin advances Gulf and Calif. offshore wind reviews - E&E News (eenews.net)
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