As part of President Obama’s Climate
Action Plan to create American
jobs, develop domestic clean energy resources and cut carbon pollution,
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
(BOEM) Director Abigail Hopper today announced the release of an Environmental
Assessment (EA) supporting a potential lease sale for more than 300,000
acres of federal waters off the coast of North Carolina for wind energy
development.
“No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate
change, and today’s announcement marks yet another milestone in the President’s
strategy to develop renewable energy, create American jobs and strengthen
the nation’s energy security future,” said Secretary Jewell. “In
close coordination with our partners in North Carolina, we are moving forward
to determine what places make sense to harness the enormous wind energy
potential off the Atlantic seaboard.”
Today’s announcement builds on BOEM’s
work to jumpstart development of offshore wind through a collaborative
state-federal process to identify Wind Energy Areas and hold competitive
lease sales. To date, BOEM has awarded seven commercial wind energy leases
off the Atlantic coast: two non-competitive leases (Cape Wind in Nantucket
Sound off Massachusetts and an area off Delaware) and five competitive
leases (two offshore Massachusetts-Rhode Island, two offshore Maryland
and another offshore Virginia). Together, the competitive lease sales have
generated more than $14 million in high bids for over 357,000 acres in
federal waters. BOEM is expected to hold two additional competitive lease
sale auctions in 2015: the Massachusetts lease sale will occur on January
29, and the New Jersey lease sale will follow later this year.
The Wind Energy Areas identified by BOEM
offshore North Carolina total about 307,590 acres and include the Kitty
Hawk Wind Energy Area (about 122,405 acres), the Wilmington West Wind Energy
Area (about 51,595 acres), and the Wilmington East Wind Energy Area (about
133,590 acres). A map of the three areas can be found by clicking here.
“Our progress in standing up an offshore
wind energy industry is the result of outstanding collaboration with state,
tribal and local stakeholders, exemplified by the North Carolina Intergovernmental
Renewable Energy Task Force,” said Director Hopper. “We look forward
to working with the state of North Carolina, industry and a broad range
of stakeholders as this exciting process continues to further commercial
wind development in the United States.”
Consistent with the Interior Department’s
“Smart from the Start” strategy for offshore wind, each of the
Atlantic Wind Energy Areas are designed to make available areas that are
attractive for commercial offshore wind development, while also protecting
important viewsheds, sensitive habitats and resources and minimizing space
use conflicts with activities such as military operations, shipping and
fishing.
In accordance with the National Environmental
Policy Act, BOEM looked at potential impacts associated only with issuing
leases and approving site assessment activities in these Wind Energy Areas.
If, after leases are issued, a lessee proposes to construct a commercial
wind energy facility, it must submit a construction and operations plan
for BOEM's review and approval. BOEM would then prepare a site-specific
NEPA analysis for the project proposed.
The public is invited to view the EA and
submit comments via BOEM’s website during the 30-day comment period beginning
January 23, 2015. BOEM will also hold three public meetings in North Carolina
during February to provide an overview of the EA findings and offer additional
opportunities for public comments.
BOEM’s three public meetings will be held at the following locations:
- Monday, February 9, 2015 in the Northern Outer Banks,
- NCWednesday,February 11, 2015 in Wilmington, NC
- Thursday, February 12, 2015 in Carolina Shores or Sunset Beach, NC