The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has initiated a public comment period concerning the regional environmental assessment focused on potential mitigation strategies related to the development of five offshore wind leasing areas along California’s central and northern coastlines.
The Notice of Availability (NOA) for the California Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) was published in the Federal Register on November 14, kicking off a 90-day comment period.
BOEM estimates that the extensive development of these leases, encompassing a total of 373,268 acres, could yield as much as 4.6 gigawatts (GW) of offshore energy.
“BOEM is looking for feedback from a diverse range of stakeholders as we work to achieve President Biden’s renewable energy objectives, which are crucial to the well-being of the American populace,” stated BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein.
“Public input on our assessment will guide the mitigation of future offshore wind energy development across various leasing areas off the coast of California. We believe this comprehensive regional approach will enhance efficiencies in the environmental assessments of specific wind energy projects while protecting our ocean ecosystems and marine biodiversity.”
In 2022, BOEM conducted an auction that raised $757 million for the rights to five offshore California leasing areas, representing the first U.S. leasing areas designated for potential floating offshore wind development.
This marks only the second occasion in which BOEM has carried out a regional assessment regarding offshore renewable energy development and operations spanning multiple lease areas. This additional step to prepare a PEIS was undertaken due to the proximity of the five lease areas and aligns with BOEM’s schedule for evaluating upcoming project proposals.
The Draft PEIS evaluates programmatic approaches for avoidance, minimization, mitigation, and monitoring that BOEM may apply as conditions for the approval of any future proposed offshore wind projects in California.
Subsequent environmental analyses specific to each proposed wind energy project will build upon this programmatic review once BOEM receives individual project plans from the current leaseholders.
