US unveils plan for up to 12 offshore wind auctions by 2028

The Biden-Harris administration on Wednesday unveiled plans for up to 12 potential offshore wind energy auctions across the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, and the waters offshore the US territories through 2028.

The offshore wind leasing schedule includes four potential auctions in 2024, one each in 2025 and 2026, two in 2027, and four in 2028, according to a press statement.

“Our offshore wind leasing schedule will provide predictability to help developers and communities plan ahead and will provide the confidence needed to continue building on the tremendous offshore wind supply chain and manufacturing investments that we’ve already seen,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.

The Wednesday statement came after, last week, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) cancelled three offshore wind projects with a combined capacity of 4,032 MW from its third solicitation round. Shortly after, the public-benefit corporation announced a plan to launch its fifth offshore wind tender this summer.

Since president Joe Biden took office, the Department of the Interior (DOI) has approved the nation's first eight commercial-scale offshore wind projects, held four offshore wind lease auctions and advanced the process to establish additional Wind Energy Areas in Oregon, the Gulf of Maine and the Central Atlantic. It has cleared more than 10 GW of clean energy from offshore wind projects, enough to power nearly four million homes.

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