New England offshore wind energy lease auction fetches $405 million

Offshore wind companies paid $405 million for leases (shown in orange) adjoining existing wind energy leases off New England. Image courtesy Business Network for Offshore Wind.

The biggest offshore wind energy lease auction to date brought in $405 million for three tracts off New England, in what federal officials call a signal of momentum for the budding U.S. industry.

“Wow. It’s the highest-grossing (wind power)  lease ever. We are truly blown away by this result,” said Walter Cruickshank, acting director of the federal Bureau of Offshore Energy, in a telephone press conference shortly after 32 rounds of bidding closed around 11:20 a.m. Friday.

Starting at 9 a.m. on...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/new-england-offshore-wind-energy-lease-auction-fetches-405-million/

BOEM requires transit corridors for offshore wind energy areas

The Bureau of Offshore Energy Management says it will require vessel transit corridors (shown in light blue) through offshore wind energy leases off New England. BOEM image.

The federal Bureau of Offshore Energy Management is requiring offshore wind energy developers to set aside vessel transit corridors, amid intense discussions with the commercial fishing industry.

In a notice published Friday in the Federal Register, the agency announced it would offer an additional 390,000 acres south of Massachusetts for lease on Dec. 13. That would extend large areas already leased from Block Island, R.I., to south of Martha’s Vineyard.

The BOEM notice includes a new...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/boem-requires-transit-corridors-for-offshore-wind-energy-areas/