BOEM Reviewing Another Hawaii Offshore Wind Request

A fourth company has requested to be qualified to participate in any future wind energy lease sale offshore Oahu, Hawaii, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) confirmed to Offshore WIND. BOEM is now evaluating the fourth party’s application.

“BOEM is reviewing the qualification information to determine whether the company is legally, technically, and financially qualified to participate in a future lease sale offshore Oahu,” a BOEM spokesperson said in a statement.

“BOEM will release the company name once BOEM makes the determination that they are legally, technically, and financially qualified.”

The three companies that applied earlier include AW Hawaii Wind, Progression Hawaii Offshore Wind, and Statoil.

First, AW Hawaii Wind and Progression Hawaii Offshore Wind had filed a total of three unsolicited lease requests for floating wind energy projects. Two lease requests were submitted by AW Hawaii Wind for the 400MW AWH Oahu Northwest Project and the 400MW AWH Oahu South Project, and the third lease request came from Progression Hawaii Offshore Wind, part of Oregon-based Progression Energy, for the 400MW Progression South Coast of Oahu Project.

After receiving the three unsolicited lease requests, BOEM had determined that there may be competitive interest in developing all or portions of the Oahu Call Area and launched a Call for Information and Nominations in June 2016. During the process, Statoil Wind US submitted an expression of interest for the entire lease area off Oahu.

Along with the Call, BOEM had also sought public input on the potential for wind development in the Hawaii Call Area, and is now in the Area Identification stage of the leasing process, during which the government nody will identify areas for environmental analysis and consideration for leasing.

“There is no specific timeline to designate a Wind Energy Area offshore Oahu. BOEM is currently coordinating with stakeholders to determine if there are areas appropriate for renewable energy leasing offshore Oahu,” the BOEM spokesperson stated.

Offshore WIND Staff