Statoil Wind US has emerged as a new company interested in the development of offshore wind energy off Oahu, Hawaii. The company submitted an expression of interest for the entire lease area off Oahu during the Call for Information and Nominations period. The lease area identified for wind energy development comprises two sites covering approximately 485,000 acres, located some 3 nautical miles offshore Hawaii. Prior to launching the Call for Information and Nominations and a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) in June, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) had received a total of three unsolicited wind energy lease requests from two potential wind developers. Before the call, two lease requests had been submitted by AW Hawaii Wind for the 400MW AWH Oahu Northwest Project and the 400MW AWH Oahu South Project, and the third lease request had come from Progression Hawaii Offshore Wind, part of Oregon-based Progression Energy, for the 400MW Progression South Coast of Oahu Project. AW Hawaii Wind proposed an expansion of a previously submitted area during comment period, wishing to obtain a commercial lease for its wind energy project. AW Hawaii Wind expanded on the areas of commercial interest submitted in its unsolicited lease requests for Oahu North and Oahu South sites, by nominating whole Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) lease blocks that were, in part, outside the Oahu Call Area. However, BOEM said it is only considering areas nominated within the Oahu Call Area. BOEM will use the information and expressions of interest received during the comment period to gather information about potential multiple uses and environmental concerns. The next step of the planning and leasing process is referred to as Area Identification, during which BOEM will balance competing uses, environmental concerns, and the proposed area’s potential for commercial wind development, with the goal being the identification of one or more areas suitable for offshore wind leasing.
Energy company Statoil Wind US has expressed its interest in leasing an area of Hawaii, Oahu, to create an offshore wind energy farm of approximately 485,000 acres. The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has received three unsolicited wind energy release requests from AW Oahu Wind and from Progression Oahu Offshore Wind, part of Progression Energy. BOEM will be considering the proposals during a comment period, and will evaluate the environmental concerns, competing usage and proposed areas for commercial wind development before deciding on offshore leasing.