Proposal to auction Oregon offshore wind energy areas introduced

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Plans to develop offshore wind energy areas off the Oregon coast are moving forward after the United States Department of the Interior announced a proposal on Tuesday to sell wind energy leases in Coos Bay and Brookings.

The lease proposal, from the department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, includes more than 195,000 acres and could power more than one million homes.

The department is now looking for feedback on several proposed lease stipulations, including offering bidding credits to bidders who commit to supporting workforce training programs for the floating offshore wind energy industry, developing a domestic supply chain for the industry, or a combination of both.

Another proposal would provide bidding credits to bidders who commit to community benefit agreements with tribes, local communities, and other stakeholders impacted by the lease development.

"As we move forward with offshore wind energy in Oregon and the Gulf of Maine, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management remains dedicated to close collaboration with our government partners and key stakeholders," said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. "We're excited to unveil these proposed sales and emphasize our commitment to exploring the potential for offshore wind development from coast to coast."

The Interior Department said the proposed sale follows engagement with Tribes, local communities, and federal and state agencies, noting they prioritized avoiding offshore fishing grounds for the wind energy areas.

BOEM said it will work with its Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces – which includes members of federal, state, and Tribal governments – to coordinate the potential sales.

In a press release, the Confederated Tribes of Coos Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians said they are “extremely disappointed” in the decision to move forward with the sale of leases of Wind Energy Areas.

According to the Tribe, the acreage in the proposal is within the Tribe’s ancestral territory and are important areas for tribal fishing.

"The Tribe has consistently urged that BOEM delay moving forward with wind energy development until a better understanding is made of the impacts to fish, wildlife, the marine environment, and cultural resources important to the Tribe,” said Tribal Council Chair Brad Kneaper. “No one, including BOEM has an understanding on how wind development will impact the fragile marine environment.”

"Recently, the Tribe urged Governor Kotek to ask BOEM to delay lease sales to help get more information and allow the Oregon Roadmap process to play out,” Chair Kneaper furthered. “Commercial fishing interests separately requested such a delay. This only makes sense because the Roadmap may be a futile effort without a commitment from BOEM to actually consider the recommendations of the Tribe, the State, and coastal stakeholders.”

The proposed lease sales come after federal officials finalized Oregon's wind energy area proposals in February.

In a statement to KOIN 6 News, Rep. David Gomber -- chair of the Oregon Coastal Caucus-- said “The Coastal Caucus simply cannot support any further steps by BOEM toward development until Oregon can complete its Offshore Wind Roadmap. The federal government owes the people of the Oregon Coast the due diligence required to ensure that these turbines won’t disrupt both our coastal economy and its ecology. The Coastal Caucus stands in firm opposition to lease auctions at this time.”