OCEAN
 Winds

Evaluating the Grid Impact of Oregon Offshore Wind

Offshore wind generation could be on the cusp of becoming a major contributor to the electricity system in the United States over the next decade. This is due to both expected system cost reductions and a combination of recent state and federal policy goals.

https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/81244.pdf

US to auction offshore leases from Maine to Oregon

“Our path forward will help achieve the first ever national offshore wind goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, which would create nearly 80,000 jobs.”

https://www.reutersevents.com/renewables/wind/uk-decarbonise-power-supply-2035-us-auction-offshore-leases-maine-oregon?utm_campaign=NEP%20WIN%2020OCT21%20Newsletter%20A&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

Virginia’s first offshore wind turbines have become a haven for marine life

Dominion Energy’s first two offshore turbines, currently used just for research, have become a haven for marine life. “It’s just amazing the fish ecosystem that is growing around those turbines,” said Scott Lawton, an environmental technical adviser for Dominion.

https://www.pilotonline.com/news/environment/vp-nw-offshore-wind-marine-life-20211014-npdjx4qzl5d37eiclokeah7q3q-story.html

Secretary Haaland Outlines Ambitious Offshore Wind Leasing Strategy

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to potentially hold up to seven new offshore lease sales by 2025 in the Gulf of Maine, New York Bight, Central Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico, as well as offshore the Carolinas, California, and Oregon.

https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-haaland-outlines-ambitious-offshore-wind-leasing-strategy

Offshore wind turbines could be coming to Oregon coast

A company called RWE visited locations from Reedsport to Port Orford to determine potential locations for an offshore wind facility. Such a project would bring more jobs and possibly revenue from exporting renewable energy.

https://kcby.com/news/local/offshore-wind-turbines-could-be-coming-to-oregon-coast

From Extraction to Sustainability: Oregon’s Southern Coast and the Emerging Blue Economy

From the fishing industry, and the scientific community, to the local Tribe, diverse stakeholders are coming together to chart the course for a sustainable local economy with a global outlook on the environment.

https://dailyyonder.com/from-extraction-to-sustainability-oregons-southern-coast-and-the-emerging-blue-economy/2021/09/13/

America's First Offshore Wind Port Breaks Ground - A Model for Oregon?

Early recognition of the significant economic opportunities associated with offshore wind has led the small state of New Jersey to be the first among its larger neighbors to build port facilities for staging, assembling and manufacturing wind farms. The state has already awarded 2 projects totaling 2.7 GW to offshore wind developers expected to create 7,000 jobs. This is the nation’s largest combined award to date. Another 1.2 GW is expected in 2022. New Jersey’s Windport is on track to become the offshore wind supply chain hub for the industry on the East Coast. It’s worth noting, Oregon’s wind resource is stronger and it has more than twice the coastline that New Jersey has.

https://www.offshorewind.biz/2021/09/10/americas-first-offshore-wind-port-breaks-ground/

Offshore Wind Market Report: 2021 Edition Released

Driven by falling offshore wind prices, federal action, and state-level commitments, the U.S. offshore wind pipeline grew 24% over the previous year

https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/articles/offshore-wind-market-report-2021-edition-released

Renewables became the second-most prevalent U.S. electricity source in 2020

The march to a clean energy future is speeding up across the nation. The contribution of renewable power sources to U.S. energy use is now at 21% exceeding the contributions of nuclear or coal in 2020. Between renewables and nuclear, 41% of American electricity generation is now low-carbon or no-carbon.

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=48896#

Shell and Scottish Power join bid to build floating wind farms

Oregon and Scotland both have a world-class offshore wind resource capable of generating enough electricity to meet internal demands and become a significant exporter of clean energy. The prime areas for both Oregon and Scotland are further from the coast in deep water which required floating turbines to be developed.

The world's first utility scale demonstration of this new technology was deployed in Scotland several years ago and has revealed it can withstand the severe conditions of the North Sea and still deliver exceptional performance. Now the supply chain is lining up to help Scotland develop this unique natural resource.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-57833660

FAA Clears Coos Bay for Development as Oregon’s First Wind Port

Some of the best wind resources in the USA are just 30 miles west of Coos Bay. Coos Bay is also the only deep water port between San Francisco and Portland. This makes it the ideal location as a regional hub for the rapidly growing offshore wind industry.

Proximity to the North Bend Airport raised potential concerns that FAA height restrictions might limit development of this industry in Coos Bay.  A local company and a key prospective part of the supply chain requested a determination from the FAA about the feasibility of conducting assembly operations in the bay. The FAA completed a study and issued a determination that there would be no impact to aviation at the North Bend Airport.  This paves the way for developers to consider Coos Bay as the optimum location for a wind port on Oregon’s southern coast.

https://6c21a3d3-1115-4aea-a860-77d7b3d0509d.usrfiles.com/ugd/6c21a3_ec358f3b73ae415bb888de61a8d0d6a1.pdf https://6c21a3d3-1115-4aea-a860-77d7b3d0509d.usrfiles.com/ugd/6c21a3_b48091bbd0954271a193fcc075cc647d.pdf

New Bedford to add second offshore wind staging facility to waterfront

This brief story outlines the history of the port at New Bedford, Mass. It started as a whaling dock, became a coal-fired power plant for about 100 years and is now emerging as the staging area for the massive offshore wind farms being built in the area.

https://turnto10.com/news/local/new-bedford-to-add-second-offshore-wind-staging-facility-to-waterfront