The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has issued its first Request for Interest for renewable energy development off the coast of
Delaware–a move it says is the first step for leasing a wind energy project on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Last April, DOI Secretary Ken Salazar announced the final
framework for Outer Continental Shelf renewable energy development,
which established a program to grant leases, easements, and
rights-of-way for
development of renewable energy. The new program, administered by
Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS), also established methods
for sharing revenues generated from Outer Continental Shelf renewable
energy projects with affected coastal states.
Salazar said DOI has been working closely with Delaware officials on renewable energy development of the state’s coast.
Delaware officials have already approved a proposal by Bluewater Wind Delaware,
LLC for the construction of a new power plant to sell up to 200
megawatts of power from an offshore wind farm to the state’s largest
utility, Delmarva.
Bluewater Wind Delaware, LLC is still required to
apply to the Minerals Management Service for an offshore lease, which
may entail competing with other companies if competitive interest
exists.
"Delawareans are eager to seize the economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind and we are proud to be the first state for which MMS will issue an Offshore Wind Request for Interest," said Governor Jack Markell from Delaware.
The Minerals Management Service will use industry responses to gauge specific interest in the commercial development of wind resources off the state’s shores. If responses indicate there is no competitive interest in this area, the agency may proceed with the noncompetitive lease process.
The area covered in the Request for Interest is in federal waters between the shipping routes for Delaware Bay. The closest point to shore is about 7.5 miles due east from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The geographic extent was selected through consultation with the Delaware Outer Continental Shelf Renewable Energy Task Force, an intergovernmental coordination group led by the Minerals Management Service. Task Force members include federal agencies, tribal governments and state and local agencies that have a role in permitting, reviewing or regulating resources or activities that are involved in energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf.
The Request for Interest will be published in the April 23, 2010 Federal Register.
In Related News…
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently transmitted a set of final recommendations on how to minimize the impacts of land-based wind farms on wildlife and its habitat to Secretary Salazar.
The document contains both policy recommendations and recommended voluntary guidelines for siting and operating wind energy projects in order to avoid or minimize potential impacts to wildlife and habitat.
The document is available at the link below.
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