Auction of California Offshore Wind Leases Draws $757M in Winning Bids

December 12, 2022 by Dan McCue
Auction  of California Offshore Wind Leases Draws $757M in Winning Bids
Offshore wind farm (BP photo)

WASHINGTON — California’s first auction of offshore wind development rights received more than $757 million in winning bids, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced.

In all, roughly 373,268 acres were earmarked for wind farm development, with the sites collectively believed to be capable of producing more than 4.6 GW of energy — enough to power more than 1.5 million homes annually.

“Today’s lease sale is further proof that industry momentum — including for floating offshore wind development — is undeniable,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.

“A sustainable, clean energy future is within our grasp and the Interior Department is doing everything we can to ensure that American communities nationwide benefit,” she added.


RWE Offshore Wind Holdings, LLC, was the provisional winner for lease area OCS-P 0561, consisting of 63,338 acres with a high bid of $157.7 million.

California North Floating, LLC, was the provisional winner for lease area OCS-P 0562, consisting of 69,031 acres with a high bid of $173.8 million.


Equinor Wind US, LLC, was the provisional winner for lease area OCS-P 0563, consisting of 80,062 acres with a high bid of $130 million.

Central California Offshore Wind, LLC, was the provisional winner for lease area OCS-P 0564, consisting of 80,418 acres with a high bid of $150.3 million.

Invenergy California Offshore LLC, was the provisional winner for lease area OCS-P 0565, consisting of 80,418 acres with a high bid of $145.3 million.

The sale is the third major offshore wind lease sale held by the Biden administration.

“The innovative bidding credits in the California auction will result in tangible investments for the floating offshore wind workforce and supply chain in the U.S. and benefits to tribes, communities and ocean users potentially affected by future offshore wind,” said BOEM Director Amanda Lefton in a written statement.


“The interest and success of today’s sale represents a significant milestone toward achieving President Biden’s goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030 and 15 gigawatts of floating offshore wind capacity by 2035,” she added.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue

A+
a-

In The News

Health

Voting

Renewable Energy

March 31, 2023
by Dan McCue
Treasury Releases Long-Awaited Guidance on Clean Vehicle Credits

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department on Friday released its long-awaited proposed guidance on which “clean” energy vehicles will be eligible... Read More

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department on Friday released its long-awaited proposed guidance on which “clean” energy vehicles will be eligible for up to $7,500 in consumer tax credits. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking from the department and the Internal Revenue Service is set to be published... Read More

March 29, 2023
by Dan McCue
Nine Companies Share in Offshore Wind Supply Chain Prize

WASHINGTON — Nine companies will each receive $100,000 and vouchers for $75,000 in technical assistance after the beginning phase of... Read More

WASHINGTON — Nine companies will each receive $100,000 and vouchers for $75,000 in technical assistance after the beginning phase of a first-of-its-kind competition to tackle the floating offshore wind energy industry’s biggest supply chain challenges. Roughly two-thirds of the nation’s offshore wind resource potential is in... Read More

Spain Clean Energy Case Shakes Confidence in EU Investment

MADRID (AP) — Renewable energy investors who lost subsidies promised by Spain are heading to a London court to try... Read More

MADRID (AP) — Renewable energy investors who lost subsidies promised by Spain are heading to a London court to try to claw back $125 million from the government — a decadelong dispute with ramifications for clean energy financing across the European Union. The outcome will be closely watched... Read More

March 28, 2023
by TWN Staff
Wisconsin Gov. Highlights Clean Energy Economy Initiatives

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers plans to travel across Wisconsin this week to highlight economic initiatives in his 2023-25... Read More

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers plans to travel across Wisconsin this week to highlight economic initiatives in his 2023-25 biennial budget, a budget that was rejected March 23 by the State Building Commission. The state panel voted 4-4 on party lines on Evers’ capital budget... Read More

March 27, 2023
by Dan McCue
Tyson Tells ARPA-E: Innovation Comes Faster Than Most Think

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Despite all the descriptors you could put in front of his name — astrophysicist, director of... Read More

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Despite all the descriptors you could put in front of his name — astrophysicist, director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, graduate of Harvard, with a Ph.D. from Columbia, author and celebrated scientist, TV star — Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson had... Read More

March 24, 2023
by Dan McCue
Innovation Is the Invisible Hand That Moves the Political Debate on Energy

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — It almost seems here in Washington that the debate over energy, over the future of fossil... Read More

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — It almost seems here in Washington that the debate over energy, over the future of fossil fuels versus renewables, never changes. Most everyone these days will advocate for an “all of the above” solution to meet the nation’s future energy needs and... Read More

News From The Well
scroll top