(USNewsMag.com) – The first off-shore wind energy lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico was announced by the Biden administration Feb. 22.
The move by the administration would open up 300,000 acres to offshore wind. The proposed areas would be two off the coast of Galveston, Texas, at 102,480 acres and 96,786 acres a piece. The other proposed area would be 102,480 acres off the coast of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The proposed offshore wind areas in the Gulf are expected to have the capacity to provide power for 1.3 million homes.
The Interior Department stated it will be looking for comments from the public on which site to lease. Once a proposal is published it will be open for a 60-day public comment period. A final notice of sale, with details on the participating companies and date of sale, will be announced 30 days before the sale becomes final.
Offshore wind auctions have already been held in New York and California, according to the Interior Department, which has also started the review process for 10 offshore wind projects.
California and Louisiana are also entering into an existing partnership with the federal government that focuses on workforce training and supply chains for the offshore wind industry.
The Biden administration continues to push for a clean energy transition. By 2030, the Biden administration has pledged to have 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy, and 15 gigawatts more by 2035 to be produced by floating offshore turbines. The administration believes this would power 10 million homes.
By 2030, the administration also believes 44,000 new jobs could be created in the offshore wind industry, with 33,000 more jobs in communities supported by the industry.
Previously, President Biden made a commitment to stop new federal drilling for oil and gas on public water and on public land.
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