Dive Brief:

• The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), working with the Hawaii Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force, has issued a "Call for Information and Nominations" in order to gauge the offshore wind industry's interest in acquiring commercial wind leases, SNL Energy reports. 
• The call will include two areas covering almost a half million acres in federal waters. Projects would help Hawaii reach an ambitious goal of running on 100% renewable energy by 2045.
• BOEM's offshore program has so far identified seven Atlantic states appropriate for wind energy development, and has awarded 11 commercial wind energy leases off their coasts.

Dive Insight:

Hawaii is more known for solar energy than wind, but there is growing interest in offshore projects according to the federal government.

BOEM has already been presented with three "unsolicited" lease requests for floating offshore wind projects off California and Hawaiian coasts. Two of the projects include Oahu Northwest and Oahu South, proposed by AW Hawaii Wind LLC; and Barbers Point, being developed by Progression Hawaii Offshore Wind Inc.

“As Hawaiians are well aware, energy can be expensive due to the transportation costs of fossil fuels that are needed to supply the state,” Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Janice Schneider said in a statement with BOEM. “Under the leadership of Governor [David] Ige and the Hawaii legislature, together we are making progress on creating the policy framework necessary to spur the development of offshore wind energy technology, helping further their goal of producing 100 percent of the State’s electricity from renewable sources.”

Along with the call for interest, BOEM will publish in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment as well, seeking public comment for on issues and alternatives, and to consider potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts associated with commercial wind leases. The agency said it will accept comments for 45 days after publishing the notice, and is also planning for public hearings.

“This announcement represents a significant step in facilitating the responsible development of offshore renewable energy to power homes and businesses on the island of Oahu,” said BOEM Director Abigail Ross Hopper. “We are working with the State of Hawaii, industry and a broad range of stakeholders to ensure that commercial wind leasing is done in a transparent manner that engages stakeholders throughout the process.”

So far, BOEM’s offshore program has awarded 11 commercial wind energy leases off the Atlantic coast, with 9 issued as a result of competitive lease sales that generated about $16 million in winning bids for more than one million acres.

BOEM announced earlier this month that it intends to propose an offshore wind lease sale for an area offshore New York. The Hawaii call will include two areas spanning approximately 485,000 acres in federal waters.