U.S. offshore wind development in the Central Atlantic took another step forward yesterday with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announcing three final Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) off the coasts of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. If fully developed, BOEM estimates the areas could support between four and eight GW of offshore wind power generation. While substantial, the acreage is insufficient to meet current state goals.

The Business Network for Offshore Wind released the following statement, which can be attributed to Sam Salustro, vice president of strategic communications: “States are turning to offshore wind as a critical piece of their clean energy strategy and game-changing economic development tool. Already in the Central Atlantic, states have set targets for 21 GW of offshore wind generation – a number that will only increase as Virginia’s energy demands grow, states like Delaware enter the market, and other states work towards their own clean energy goals. A supply chain is emerging in response to this market demand and investments are flowing into the region with new facilities planned for Baltimore and Hampton Roads, ports redevelopments underway, and established suppliers expanding their operations like on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This potential can only be realized, however, if federal leasing policy matches state energy demands.

The federal government’s recent efforts to build confidence in its leasing process has led to $16.6 billion in new investments in American ports, factories, shipyards, and labor halls. Protecting and expanding on these gains requires BOEM to further explore maximizing the remaining lease areas and begin working towards further offshore wind development in the Central Atlantic.”