Jessica Cejnar Andrews / Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023 @ 6:29 p.m. / Environment, Infrastructure, Ocean, Oregon
BOEM Is Exploring Wind Energy Potential Off the Southern Oregon Coast, Seeks Public Input
The two draft wind energy areas off the Southern Oregon Coast are roughly 219,568 acres and range between 18 and 32 miles offshore. | Map courtesy of BOEM
Federal energy officials have identified two areas off the Southern Oregon Coast that “appear most suitable for floating offshore wind energy leasing” and is seeking input from the public.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will hold a series of public meetings both virtual and in-person starting Monday. Those meetings are part of a 60-day public comment period that began on Aug. 15 on two draft wind energy areas that cover roughly 219,568 acres offshore and range between 18 and 32 miles off the coast.
The first two meetings will be held via Zoom. The Virtual Oregon Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force will meet from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday.
An informational fishing webinar will take place from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21. For a draft agenda, click here.
Meanwhile, the first in-person meeting will be held from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Gold Beach Community Center, 29841 Airport Way.
The second meeting will be held at the Coos Bay Public Library, 525 Anderson Avenue from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 27.
A third meeting will be held from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Southwest Oregon Community College Curry Campus in Brookings, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway.
BOEM has this to say about the draft wind energy areas:
BOEM used a comprehensive process to identify the potential offshore locations that appear most suitable for floating offshore wind energy leasing and potential development, taking into consideration possible impacts to local coastal and marine resources and ocean users. In addition to coordinating with the State of Oregon, BOEM collaborated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) to use an ocean planning model that seeks to identify and minimize conflicts.
BOEM will accept comments at the virtual and in-person meetings as well as through 11:59 p.m. eastern time on Oct. 16.
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