BOEM greenlights Gulf of Mexico wind leasing

The development of offshore wind leasing areas in the US Gulf of Mexico will have no significant impacts on the environmental resources, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has ruled out.

The Government of Interior (DOI) agency on Tuesday released the final environmental assessment (EA) for the leasing initiative and its potential harmful effects on nature. The review took into account the possible consequences of biological, archaeological, geological, and geophysical surveys.

“The completion of our environmental review is an important step forward to advance clean energy development in a responsible manner while promoting economic vitality and well-paying jobs in the Gulf of Mexico region,” said BOEM’s director Liz Klein.

The proposed zone covers two wind energy areas (WEAs) off Texas and Louisiana totalling 682,000 acres (26,000 hectares) that in October 2022 were designated as suitable for offshore development in a step towards the first offshore wind lease sale in the region. Plans for the sale were announced in February 2023 for one site off Lake Charles, Louisiana, and two locations offshore Galveston, Texas, both within the WEAs. According to the government's estimates, these areas have the potential to generate power for almost 1.3 million homes.

Provided that BOEM decides to proceed with the lease sale, it will publish a final sale notice (FSN) at least 30 days prior to launching the round.

The environmental assessment was carried out on a 30-million-acre call area, the agency noted.

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!