Another engaging session with BOEM as the focus moved from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Coast and opportunities off the California coast. 

There’s a renewed sense of purpose evident in BOEM as they assess the US potential for offshore renewables, and in particular, offshore wind.

The day-long Intergovernmental task force session took a deep dive into the region in providing an update as to where it is now, and some of the challenges and opportunities emerging within it.

Director Amanda Lefton outlined five key points

·      The Climate Threat

·      Jobs Well paying and unionised, with benefits throughout the entire supply chain

·      Scientific underpinnings of all output with BOEM critical role in facilitating    

·      Robust engagement including first nation input

·      Transparency

The session focussed on the West Coast and especially the frontrunner area of 399 sq miles at Morro Bay. Recent wild -fires led Governor Newsome to write last week and call for an acceleration of the energy transition and it is pleasing to see the Defense department both engaging and supportive of the wider aspiration as areas are proactively de-risked.

Offshore development areas are being refined and extended and clarifying questions and answers collated. BOEM stress that interested individuals will be provided an opportunity to ask clarifying question on the topic of the OCS Wind Energy Leasing process in California.

As with the recent BOEM Gulf of Mexico: Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force a lively question and answer session addressed questions consultations, community benefits and further exploration of supply chain and local opportunities and a hope that the US's stop start offshore wind journey may now be gaining momentum.

Update May 2022

Potential bidders:

• 47 Energy LLC (one of whose portfolio companies is Spanish BlueFloat Energy)
• Algonquin Power Fund (America) Inc.
• Arevia Power LLC
• Avangrid Renewables, LLC
• Castle Wind LLC (a joint venture between Trident Winds Inc. and TotalEnergies)
• Central California Offshore Wind LLC (Ocean Winds, a joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE)
• Cademo Corporation
• Clearway Renew LLC
• EDF Renewables Development, Inc.
• EDPR Offshore North America LLC
• Equinor Wind US LLC
• JERA Renewables NA, LLC
• Marubeni Power International, Inc.
• Mission Floating Wind LLC (Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners)
• Northcoast Floating Wind LLC (Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners)
• Northland Power America Inc.
• Ørsted North America Inc.
• Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) (with partners Principle Power, EDPR, Offshore North America, and Aker Solutions)
• Redwood Coast Offshore Wind LLC
• RWE Renewables Development, LLC
• Shell New Energies US LLC
• US Mainstream Offshore, Inc.
• wpd offshore Alpha, LLC

Floating Wind technology is in the running as further north in Oregon and onthe Eastern Mid-Atlantic seaboardJoin with me and over 2400 stakeholders at the Offshore Wind and Hydrogen Professionals Group.