Current:Home > FinanceFederal government postpones sale of floating offshore wind leases along Oregon coast-InfoLens
Federal government postpones sale of floating offshore wind leases along Oregon coast
View Date:2024-12-23 14:51:27
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The federal government postponed an auction of floating offshore wind leases off the Oregon coast on Friday after developers said they wouldn’t bid and the state’s governor asked that all leasing activities stop.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management did not set a new date for the sale. It said the decision to postpone the sale scheduled for Oct. 15 was based on “insufficient bidder interest at this time.”
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek wrote to the agency shortly before the announcement, asking it to terminate the current auction, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. Kotek cited growing concerns from coastal and fishing communities, tribes and others.
Some are concerned that the construction will harm sea life, marine habitat, culturally important areas and views of the ocean. The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians — whose culture is tied to the ocean — sued the federal government.
In light of the mounting opposition, the number of companies planning to bid on the leases dwindled.
Five companies were qualified to bid. Mainstream Renewable Power Inc., one of the five, told Oregon Public Broadcasting this week that it will not longer participate. Two others told the Oregonian/OregonLive that they, too, are backing out.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said Friday that it will continue working with government agencies and tribal governments, as well as support ongoing processes to engage with stakeholders, in order to figure out a future opportunity for a potential lease sale.
There are only a handful of floating offshore arrays across the globe. California awarded the first-ever leases in the U.S. to develop commercial-scale floating wind farms in 2022. The federal government issued the nation’s first floating offshore wind research lease to the state of Maine in August.
In Oregon, the plans for floating wind involve two areas covering 305 square miles (790 square kilometers) off the state’s southern coast. The two areas are 32 miles (52 kilometers) off the coast of Coos Bay and 18 miles (29 kilometers) from the small city of Brookings, near the California state line.
veryGood! (73)
Related
- Mike Tyson concedes the role of villain to young foe in 58-year-old’s fight with Jake Paul
- Trump says it would be a ‘smart thing’ if he spoke to Putin, though he won’t confirm he has
- 19 mayoral candidates compete to lead Portland, Oregon, in a race with homelessness at its heart
- An ex-politician faces at least 20 years in prison in the killing of a Las Vegas reporter
- Brian Austin Green Shares Message to Sharna Burgess Amid Ex Megan Fox's Baby News
- The Daily Money: A rosy holiday forecast
- Kristen Bell Admits to Sneaking NSFW Joke Into Frozen
- Los Angeles Archdiocese agrees to pay $880 million to settle sexual abuse claims
- Who will save Florida athletics? Gators need fixing, and it doesn't stop at Billy Napier
- NFL owners approve Jacksonville’s $1.4 billion ‘stadium of the future’ set to open in 2028
Ranking
- What to know about Mississippi Valley State football player Ryan Quinney, who died Friday
- Body camera footage shows Phoenix officers punch, shock deaf man with Taser
- How 'Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage' mirrors real-life wedding, baby for its stars
- Alabama to execute Derrick Dearman for murder of 5 five family members. What to know
- Sister Wives’ Janelle Brown Alleges Ex Kody Made False Claims About Family’s Finances
- Kate Moss and Lila Moss Are Ultimate Mother-Daughter Duo Modeling in Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
- US law entitles immigrant children to an education. Some conservatives say that should change
- Unraveling the real-life medical drama of the 'Grey's Anatomy' writer who faked cancer
Recommendation
-
Beyoncé's Grammy nominations in country categories aren't the first to blur genre lines
-
Texas man facing execution in shaken baby syndrome case awaits clemency ruling
-
'We Live in Time' review: A starry cancer drama that should have been weepier
-
Mexico vs. USMNT live updates, highlights: Cesar Huerta, Raul Jimenez have El Tri in lead
-
Bev Priestman fired as Canada women’s soccer coach after review of Olympic drone scandal
-
Most overpaid college football coaches include two from SEC. Who are they?
-
Georgia made Kirby Smart college football's highest-paid coach. But at what cost?
-
Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee shot multiple times in Las Vegas