Biden Administration Awards Offshore Wind Lease to Maine

(Reuters) – The Biden administration on Monday issued an offshore wind lease to the state of Maine for a small project that will demonstrate floating turbine technology off the U.S. East Coast.

Why It’s Important

U.S. President Joe Biden has championed offshore wind as a key pillar of his climate change agenda. His Interior Department has set a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030, and 15 GW of floating capacity by 2035.

Wind turbines that float on the ocean’s surface are an emerging technology necessary for projects off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Maine, where the depth of the water precludes the use of standard, fixed equipment.

By The Numbers

• Lease Area: Covers 9,700 acres (3,920 hectares)
• Distance from Shore: 28 nautical miles (52 kilometers)
• Potential Turbines: Up to 12 floating offshore wind turbines
• Electricity Generation: About 144 megawatts

What’s Next?

Construction on the research array is not expected to occur for several years, the Interior Department said. The lease will allow researchers to gather information to inform future commercial floating offshore wind development. Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is expected to hold an auction for a commercial offshore wind lease in the Gulf of Maine later this year.

Key Quote

“Floating wind opens up opportunities to produce renewable energy in deeper water farther offshore,” bureau Director Elizabeth Klein said in a statement. “Signing the Gulf of Maine research lease demonstrates the commitment by both BOEM and the State of Maine to promote a clean energy future for the nation.”