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BOEM Outlines Two Oregon Wind Energy Areas
Two proposed wind energy areas located 18 to 32 miles off the southern Oregon coast would total less than 220,000 acres – much less than potential development areas first outlined by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in April 2022.
The Aug. 15 announcement from BOEM starts a 60-day public comment on the proposal. This new draft document comes after calls from Oregon state officials and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council for BOEM to rethink its analysis of wind energy development and potential conflicts with fishing, maritime shipping and environmental issues.
As now proposed the areas would total 219,568 acres of federal waters – a reduction of 81 percent from BOEM’s original “call areas” drawn in 2022 to gauge wind developers’ interest and stakeholders’ reactions.
The agency will “continue to prioritize a robust and transparent process, including ongoing engagement with Tribal governments, agency partners, the fishing community, and other ocean users,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein in announcing the proposal.
Keel Laying Ceremony for First U.S. Hybrid SOV for Offshore Wind Industry
Edison Chouest Offshore is marking another shipbuilding milestone for the emerging U.S. offshore wind sector. The yard along with partners Equinor and BP marked the keel laying for the next vessel for the industry, a service operation vessel that will feature a hybrid power system with battery power storage.
The vessel was ordered last year and will operate under a ten-year charter providing crew transport services as part of the operations and maintenance for the Empire Wind 1 and 2 wind farms to be located off New York’s Long Island. The vessel is being built at ECO’s LaShip yard in Houma, Louisiana.
The hybrid SOV is the first in the U.S. that will have the ability to sail in and out of port under battery power. Plans call for it to be homeported at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, where it will also recharge using shore power. It will sail in and out of port under battery power eliminating in-port emissions and the vessel is certified to “tier 4 emission standards.”
With accommodations for up to 60 wind turbine technicians, the vessel will be Jones Act compliant and be operated by Edison Chouest Offshore. It is due to enter service the companies said in the mid-2020s.
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