California Activities
What's New
On August 18, 2016, BOEM published a
notice in the Federal Register, "Potential Commercial Lease for Wind
Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore California - Request for Interest
(RFI) in Docket No. BOEM-2016-0051. The objective of the RFI was to
determine whether or not other companies are interested in developing in
the areas proposed in the Unsolicited Lease Requests (i.e. to determine
competitive interest). The RFI also requested comments and information
from the public on the proposed area. The comment period is now closed.
BOEM received one expression of interest from a wind developer, Statoil
Wind US, LLC, and thirteen stakeholder comments.
Unsolicited Lease Requests
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act requires BOEM to award renewable energy leases competitively, unless BOEM determines there is no competitive interest. In January 2016, BOEM received an unsolicited request for a commercial lease from Trident Winds LLC. (Trident Winds). BOEM reviewed the unsolicited lease application and determined in March 2016 that Trident Winds was legally, technically and financially qualified to hold a commercial lease on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Public Engagement
BOEM established the BOEM/California Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force to promote planning and coordination, and to facilitate effective and efficient review of requests for commercial and research leases and right-of-way grants for power cables on the Federal outer continental shelf (OCS). The OCS begins 3 nautical miles offshore California. Members of the Task Force include representatives of Federal, state and local government agencies, and tribes.
Join us on November 1-2 at the California Ocean Renewable Energy Conference in Davis, California to learn about regulatory frameworks, resources, technologies, and environmental research relating to wind and wave energy offshore California. The conference is sponsored by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and will feature opening remarks by Federal and State representatives; invited presentations in themed sessions; speakers from government, academia, and the private sector; Q&A discussions; and an evening social event. The conference will take place at the Alumni Center at the University of California, Davis. There is no fee to attend the conference.
Next Steps
The next steps in BOEM’s renewable energy leasing process is to collect data and information on the area offshore California's central coast, including the area identified in the RFI.
Public Engagement/Resources
BOEM Research
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