The area under consideration will include 79,350 acres including five full Outer Continental Shelf blocks and 143 sub-blocks. The areas will start about 11.5 nautical miles from Jones Beach, New York.
The qualified companies include Avangrid Renewables, CI-II NY, Dong Energy Wind Power, Innogy US Renewable Projects, wpd offshore Alpha, Deepwater Wind Hudson Canyon, Energy Management, Convalt Energy, and Clean Power Northeast Development.
Additionally, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Statoil Wind US, EDF Renewable Development, Fishermen’s Energy, and Sea Breeze Energy have also been shortlisted.
US Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said: “Industry interest remains strong with more than a dozen qualified bidders as we take another step closer to harnessing the enormous potential of offshore wind energy for Atlantic coastal communities.”
Till date, BOEM has issued eleven commercial wind leases including nine leases through competitive lease sale process and generated about $16m in winning bids for more than a million acres in federal waters.
BOEM said it has removed about 1780 acres from the lease area upon receiving comments on environmental assessment that raised concerns over a seafloor feature known as the Cholera Bank.
BOEM Director Abigail Ross Hopper said: “New York is a critical component in building a robust US offshore wind industry.
“The process to develop and refine the New York lease area, as well as the online auction, reflects the deep commitment BOEM has to listening and responding to stakeholders and ensuring that all voices are heard as we forge a path to a clean energy future.”
