The US government has set the date for the first-ever offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico.
The seabed auction for a potential 3.7 GW that could power almost 1.3m homes is set for August 29 this year.
The US has so far held three offshore wind lease auctions, including the areas off the New York and New Jersey coasts and the first ever off the Pacific coast in California.
The latest move is part of the Biden administration’s scheme to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030.
“The Gulf of Mexico is poised to play a key role in our nation’s transition to a clean energy future,” said BOEM director Elizabeth Klein. “Today’s announcement follows years of engagement with government agencies, states, ocean users, and stakeholders in the Gulf of Mexico region. We look forward to continued collaboration in the years to come.”
The final sale notice, which will publish on July 21, 2023, includes a 102,480-acre area offshore Lake Charles, Louisiana, and two areas offshore Galveston, Texas, one comprising 102,480 acres and the other 96,786 acres.
