- The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said it is seeking competitive bids for offshore wind leases off the coast of Texas.
- BOEM said it will consider scheduling a lease sale if it receives at least one additional bid on the area.
The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said it is seeking competitive bids for offshore wind leases off the coast of Texas after renewable energy developer Hecate Energy Gulf Wind LLC made an unsolicited bid.
The administration of President Joe Biden sees offshore wind power as a vital part of a broader strategy to decarbonise the US power sector to fight climate change. Still, the nascent industry faces strong local opposition in some areas over concerns about ocean views and damage to sea life.
Leases are typically sold at scheduled auctions, and BOEM billed Hecate’s unsolicited bid as evidence of the commercial potential of wind power in the Gulf of Mexico.
“The Gulf region benefits from great offshore wind resources and existing energy infrastructure,” said BOEM’s Gulf of Mexico regional director, James Kendall, in a press release.
BOEM said Hecate was seeking acreage off the coast of southeast Texas within a roughly 142,000-acre region that had been set aside for offshore wind leasing in 2021. It did not provide details of Hecate’s bid.
BOEM said if it receives at least one additional bid on the area, it will consider scheduling a lease sale. Otherwise, it may issue a noncompetitive lease to Hecate.