By Nicola Groom
(Reuters) -The Biden administration on Friday canceled a planned auction of rights to develop offshore wind power off the coast of Oregon after the state’s governor said she did not support the sale.
The announcement was a setback for US President Joe Biden’s vision to install turbines along every US coastline as part of his efforts to combat climate change. It was the second time this year that the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has suspended an offshore wind lease sale, as the emerging industry grapples with high costs and supply chain challenges. The agency canceled an auction in the Gulf of Mexico in July.
BOEM, a division of the Department of the Interior, cited in a news release a lack of interest from the offshore wind industry in the Oregon sale, which was scheduled for Oct. 15. Although five companies had qualified to participate in the sale, only one had expressed interest in bidding for the lease areas, BOEM said.
Earlier on Friday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek sent a letter to BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein requesting a halt to offshore wind leasing off the Oregon coast. Two weeks earlier, a group of Oregon tribes sued BOEM in federal court to block the sale.
Citing broad concerns from labor, fisheries, conservation and renewable energy groups, Kotek said the state needed more time to complete an offshore wind energy “roadmap” process required by a state law passed earlier this year was adopted.
“I remain convinced that offshore wind energy holds exciting promise to be part of our nation’s clean energy future, but that important actions in Oregon must be done the Oregon way,” Kotek said in the letter.
Also in the letter, Kotek said Oregon would withdraw from a federal, state and tribal task force created to coordinate offshore wind planning in the state.
BOEM declined to comment on Kotek’s letter.
Opposition to offshore wind energy has become more sophisticated in the United States and abroad, with several active groups in Oregon.
In its statement, BOEM said it announced the sale in Oregon after consultation with the Oregon Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force.
“BOEM will continue to work with representatives from federal, state, local agencies and tribal governments to coordinate potential leasing and support ongoing stakeholder engagement processes on broader offshore wind considerations, such as the state-led development of a Strategic Roadmap for Offshore Wind Energy . ,” the agency said.
