April 8, 2022 โ The first draft environmental assessment for a California offshore wind energy area is out from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, starting a 30-day public review and comment period on the 178-page document.
The 276-square mile Morro Bay Wind Energy Area about 20 miles off the stateโs central coast could be developed to a potential 3 gigawatt generation potential, roughly enough to power 1 million homes, according to BOEM.
It lies close to busy sea lanes between California ports, fishing and recreational industries and migration routes for protected marine mammals and other wildlife. The draft assessment includes all those issues and BOEMโs present thinking on how they can be addressed.
โThe WEA was designated after extensive collaboration with other Federal agencies and the State of California, as well as engagement with ocean users, Tribes, local communities and the public,โ according to BOEMโs announcement of the document. โDesignation of the Morro Bay WEA underscores BOEMโs commitment to an all-of-government approach to achieve the (Biden) Administrationโs ambitious offshore wind energy goals while conserving and restoring ocean and coastal habitats.โ
The draft assessment analyzes potential impacts from future commercial leasing by wind energy developers and related site characterization and assessment activities.