Move over, oil – wind power is officially coming to the Gulf of Mexico

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced today that it has completed two wind energy sites in the Gulf of Mexico that will have the potential to produce enough clean energy to power nearly 3 million homes.

Wind energy is coming to the Gulf of Mexico

The first area is approximately 24 nautical miles off the coast of Galveston, Texas. This area is 508,265 acres and has the potential to power 2.1 million homes.

The second area is approximately 56 nautical miles off the coast of Lake Charles, Louisiana. It covers an area of ​​174,275 hectares and has the potential to power more than 740,000 homes.

BOEM reduced the size of the two areas slightly from the draft versions to address concerns raised by the Department of Defense and the US Coast Guard regarding shipping, maritime navigation and military operations.

In July, the Biden administration announced that it would continue to develop offshore wind energy in the Persian Gulf, which is already a hub for oil and gas production.

Non-profit ocean conservation organization OceanCompany director Diane Hoskins said:

It is good to see the development of offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Mexico. Unlike the dirty and dangerous offshore drilling that pollutes our waters and harms frontline communities in the Persian Gulf, offshore wind can support a fair and just transition away from the fossil fuels that are causing the climate crisis.

This message lays the groundwork for responsible development of offshore wind energy in the Gulf of Mexico, which will help lower energy costs, create jobs and combat climate change.

The next steps in BOEM’s competitive renewable energy leasing process include issuing a notice of proposed sale with a 60-day public comment period later this year or in early 2023.

Expanding US offshore wind power is a key part of the Biden administration’s plan to decarbonize the electricity sector by 2035.

Read more: US offshore wind sets record with long-term targets up 58% in Q3

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