Coos Bay’s Offshore Wind Farm to Exclusively Power LNG Plant?

Principle Power’s WindFloat Pacific (WFP) floating wind project cleared its first major hurdle last week by getting approval from the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and by that automatically gained more attention from the public and media.

One of the raised questions is the final use of the renewable energy produced by the 30MW floating wind farm, which would be placed off the coast of Coos Bay, Oregon.

In its application submitted to BOEM in May last year, Principle Power repeatedly referred to the Jordan Cove liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal as a partner project, to which it would export the produced electricity.

In the application, the company explained: “The existence of the Jordan Cove Energy Project (JCE) at Coos Bay and its ability to purchase power from WFP created a strong market opportunity. In addition, the electric infrastructure being developed in association with the Jordan Cove project (the natural gas fired South Dunes Power Plant) created an obvious grid interconnection opportunity.”

However, Principle Power’s vice president for business and government affairs, Kevin Banister, last year underlined that the cooperation with Jordan Cove LNG plant is just a “plan A”, adding that the WindFloat Pacific project could move forward without it, Coos Bay’s The World news site wrote.

This was also highlighted by BOEM’s director Tommy P. Beaudreau at the last week’s approval announcement. He said that the WindFloat Pacific is not strictly dependent on the Jordan Cove LNG plant and that it was Principle Power’s “commercial consideration”, Earth Techling cites Mr. Beaudreau.

Still, WindFloat project is not so close to the construction stage, as its next step is to submit a formal plan. BOEM’s final decision on lease issuance and plan approval will be made after a National Environmental Policy Act analysis, which includes public comment.

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Offshore WIND Staff, February 10, 2014; Image: Principle Power/Jordan Cove Energy