Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
NEW ORLEANS — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced at the International Partnering Forum conference in New Orleans today a new five-year offshore wind leasing schedule. The schedule includes up to 12 potential offshore wind energy lease sales through 2028 in various regions across the United States.
Secretary Haaland emphasized the administration's commitment to renewable energy projects, stating, "The Biden-Harris administration has built an offshore wind industry from the ground up after years of delay from the previous Administration. As we look toward the future, this new leasing schedule will support the types of renewable energy projects needed to lower consumer costs, combat climate change, create jobs to support families, and ensure economic opportunities are accessible to all communities."
She further added, "Our offshore wind leasing schedule will provide predictability to help developers and communities plan ahead and will provide the confidence needed to continue building on the tremendous offshore wind supply chain and manufacturing investments that we’ve already seen."
BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein echoed the importance of transparency and certainty in the renewable energy sector, stating, “As the transition to a clean energy economy continues to accelerate, BOEM hopes to provide certainty and transparency by regularly providing a renewable energy leasing schedule. Routinely issuing a leasing schedule demonstrates our commitment to a long-term portfolio of leases and provides advance notice to stakeholders of the areas that are being considered for future lease sales."
The offshore wind leasing schedule aims to facilitate planning by various stakeholders including Tribes, states, localities, interest groups, academia, non-profits, fisheries, federal agencies, and others. It will provide advance notice of potential lease sales in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, and the waters offshore U.S. territories over the next five years.
The Department of the Interior has already approved more than 10 gigawatts of clean energy from offshore wind projects, which can power nearly 4 million homes. The administration's efforts are part of a broader strategy to grow a sustainable offshore wind industry by encouraging the use of project labor agreements, strengthening workforce training, and bolstering the domestic supply chain.
The Biden-Harris administration's focus on investing in America's clean energy future is evident through these initiatives, which aim to combat the climate crisis, create jobs, and make communities more resilient. The new leasing schedule is a step towards achieving these goals and supporting the development of the American offshore wind industry.
