An offshore wind lease refers to a designated section of the ocean where developers can obtain the rights to develop wind energy projects. These areas are divided by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) which holds leasing auctions to bidders who are then granted the legal authorization to assess the area and install wind turbines. The U.S. Central Atlantic and Gulf of Maine regions have emerged as potential development areas for future offshore wind projects and energy development. The Central Atlantic region originally was drafted to have eight Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) that covered approximately 1.7 million acres off the coasts of North Carolina, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The Final Sale Notice (FSN) includes lease area A-2 which covers 101,443 acres, and lease area C-1 which covers 176,505 acres of space. BOEM has also announced the proposal for an offshore wind energy auction in the Gulf of Maine. The eight lease areas in this region could provide up to 15 gigawatts (GW) of energy which is enough to power over 5 million homes in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. The auction process begins with BOEM announcements, followed by environmental assessments that shape the WEAs. Winning bidders secure the legal authorization to proceed with offshore wind development. This poster explains and illustrates the dynamic process of offshore lease auctions, from initial announcements to post-auction development.
