On Feb. 23, 2022, BOEM held an offshore wind auction for six lease areas in the New York Bight. The lease sale drew competitive winning bids from six companies totaling approximately $4.37 billion.
- Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Sets Offshore Energy Records with $4.37 Billion in Winning Bids for Wind Sale
- Round by Round Results
- Executed Leases
- OCS-A 0537: OW Ocean Winds East, LLC
- OCS-A 0538: Attentive Energy LLC
- OCS-A 0539: Bight Wind Holdings, LLC
- OCS-A 0541: Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Bight, LLC
- OCS-A 0542: Invenergy Wind Offshore LLC
- OCS-A 0544: Vineyard Mid-Atlantic LLC (name changed during lease execution from Mid-Atlantic Offshore Wind LLC)
New York Bight Final Sale Notice Lease Area Descriptive Statistics
The following table contains descriptive statistics of the New York Bight lease areas. The energy calculations are based on a conservative power ratio of 3MW/sqkm - BOEM acknowledges that as these projects are developed and offshore wind technology efficiencies are gained the energy densities may increase.
|
|
OCS-A 0537 |
OCS-A 0538 |
OCS-A 0539 |
OCS-A 0541 |
OCS-A 0542 |
OCS-A 0544 |
Total |
|
Acres |
71,522 |
84,332 |
125,964 |
79,351 |
83,976 |
43,056 |
488,201 |
|
Developable Acres |
71,522 |
79,438 |
114,277 |
76,139 |
76,894 |
43,056 |
461,326 |
|
Installation Capacity (MW)[1] |
868 |
964 |
1,387 |
924 |
934 |
523 |
5,601 |
|
Homes powered[2] |
303,911 |
337,548 |
485,586 |
323,530 |
326,738 |
182,954 |
1,960,268 |
|
Power Production (MWh/yr)[3] |
3,042,588 |
3,379,340 |
4,861,411 |
3,238,998 |
3,271,116 |
1,831,628 |
19,625,081 |
|
Max Depth (meters[m]) |
61 |
63 |
51 |
51 |
54 |
46 |
-- |
|
Min Depth (m) |
50 |
37 |
31 |
31 |
32 |
40 |
-- |
|
Closest distance to NY (nautical mile [nmi]) |
38 |
47 |
56 |
65 |
69 |
20 |
-- |
|
Closest distance to NJ (nmi) |
53 |
36 |
32 |
27 |
35 |
36 |
-- |
[1] Megawatts (MW) based upon 3MW/sqkm
[2] Based upon 350 homes per MW
[3] Formula = Capacity (MW) * 8760 (hrs/yr) * 0.4 (capacity factor)
Unsolicited Lease Request Offshore New York
On December 30, 2016, PNE Wind USA, Inc. submitted an unsolicited lease request for 40,920 acres offshore New York.
- PNE Wind USA, Inc. unsolicited request for an area offshore New York
- Shapefile for the unsolicited lease request
Call for Information and Nominations
BOEM published a Call for Information and Nominations (Call) on April 11, 2018 to obtain nominations from companies interested in commercial wind energy leases within the proposed area in the New York Bight. This region represents an area of shallow waters between Long Island (to the north and east) and the New Jersey coast (to the south and west).
- In addition to nominations, BOEM gathered public input on the potential for wind energy development in the Call Area. The comment period closed on July 30, 2018. All comments are available on https://www.regulations.gov.
- New York Bight - Call for Information and Nominations
- Map Showing the New York Bight Call for Information and Nominations Areas
- GIS File of the New York Bight Call for Information and Nominations Areas
- Nominations
View the NY Bight Call Area in the Northeast Ocean Data Portal.
Wind Energy Areas
In March 2021, BOEM identified nearly 800,000 acres as Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) in the New York Bight, between Long Island and the New Jersey coast. The agency initiated an environmental review, with public input, on these areas in federal waters for potential offshore wind leasing.
The goal of BOEM’s Area Identification process is to identify the offshore locations that appear most suitable for wind energy development taking into consideration coexistence with ocean users. As part of this process, BOEM removed areas of highest conflict from consideration. BOEM received input from the public and other governmental agencies through the Call for Information and task force meetings as part of the process. The New York Bight WEAs are located in an area of shallow waters between Long Island (to the north and east) and the New Jersey coast (to the south and west).
- Memorandum for Area ID in the NY Bight
- New York Bight Wind Energy Areas Summary
- Wind Energy Area Shape Files
Department of Defense (DoD) Assessment
DoD’s Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) has been leading DoD’s review of the New York Bight Wind Energy Areas in support of BOEM’s efforts to deconflict the area. In June 2021, the Clearinghouse provided an update to their December 15, 2020 assessment by providing feedback on lease areas proposed in the Hudson South Wind Energy Area. In summary, the Clearinghouse has refined its analysis and indicated that a majority of the area that was initially designated as incompatible for wind energy development could be suitable for development with site-specific stipulations. A more complete summary of the updated assessment can be found on our website here: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/ny-bight-dod.
Proposed Sale Notice
BOEM published a Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) in the Federal Register on June 14, 2021. It provides detailed information about potential areas that could be available for leasing, proposed lease provisions and conditions, auction details (e.g., criteria for evaluating competing bids and award procedures), and lease execution. The proposal included up to eight lease areas in the New York Bight for potential commercial wind energy development. The lease areas have the potential to unlock over 7 gigawatts of offshore wind energy, powering over 2.6 million homes and supporting thousands of new jobs.
The comments received in response to this notice can be found here: https://www.regulations.gov/search/comment?filter=boem-2021-0033
Final Sale Notice and Shared Vision for the New York Bight
On Jan. 12, 2022, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced that BOEM would hold a wind energy auction on Feb. 23, 2022, in the New York Bight.
Secretary Haaland was joined by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and New York Governor Kathy Hochul to outline their shared vision for developing a robust offshore wind domestic supply chain that will deliver benefits to residents of New York and New Jersey and the surrounding region, including underserved communities. This collaboration will serve as a model for future engagement and establish the U.S. as a major player in the global offshore wind market.
- New York Bight Final Sale Notice
- A Shared Vision on the Development of an Offshore Wind Supply Chain
- New York Bight Commercial Leases
- OCS-A-0537
- OCS-A-0538
- OCS-A-0539
- OCS-A-0541
- OCS-A-0542
- OCS-A-0544
-
Note: BOEM has made minor edits to lease OCS-A 0544 to conform to the Final Sale Notice’s provision for setback requirements applicable to that lease. See section 6.4 of the New York Bight Final Sale Notice Decision Memorandum. Prior stipulations 8.1 and 8.2 of Addendum C were potentially ambiguous with respect to the 2 nmi setback required for lease OCS-A-0544 and BOEM has thus reformatted the substance
of those provisions into Stipulation 8.1, which now provides as follows:-
8.1 Surface Structure Layout and Orientation: This lease area, OCS-A 0544, is located adjacent to the existing BOEM lease area OCS-A 0512. In the Lessee’s proposed project design in the COP, the Lessee must endeavor to design a surface structure layout that contains two common lines of orientation between OCS-A 0512 and OCS-A 0544 (as described in Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 01-19). If the Lessee and the neighboring BOEM lessee (i.e., the lessee for OCS-A 0512) cannot agree on such a surface structure layout, the OCS-A 0544 Lessee must incorporate a 2 nmi setback from the boundary of the neighboring lease, within which the OCS-A 0544 Lessee must not construct any surface structures. Rent will be collected on all areas assigned to the Lessee, as outlined in Addendum A, regardless of potential restrictions.
-
-
- New York Bight Final Sale Notice Decision Memorandum
- New York Bight Final Sale Notice Response to Comments
- Bidders Financial Form
- EFT Payment Instructions
- NY Bight Auction System Technical Supplement
- Maps
New York Bight Final EA
On December 16, 2021, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced the availability of a final environmental assessment (EA) that assesses the potential impacts of the issuance of commercial and research leases within the identified wind energy areas (WEAs) of the New York Bight, and granting of rights-of-way and rights-of-use and easement in the region.
The EA considers potential environmental consequences of the Proposed Action, which includes site characterization activities (i.e., biological, archeological, geological, and geophysical surveys and core samples) and site assessment activities (i.e., installation of meteorological buoys). The EA also considers project easements associated with each potential lease issued and grants for subsea cable corridors in the New York Bight.
BOEM has considered the evaluation of the potential effects of the Proposed Action and has determined that the Proposed Action would not cause any significant impacts, and implementing the Proposed Action does not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
- Press Release Announcing Availability of New York Bight Final EA and FONSI
- Final EA and Appendices: Commercial and Research Wind Lease and Grant Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf of the New York Bight
- Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
New York Bight Draft EA
On August 10, 2021, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) that assesses the potential impacts of the issuance of commercial and research leases within the identified wind energy areas (WEAs) of the New York Bight, and granting of rights-of-way and rights-of-use and easement in the region.
The EA considers potential environmental consequences of site characterization activities (i.e., biological, archeological, geological, and geophysical surveys and core samples) and site assessment activities (i.e., installation of meteorological buoys). The EA also considers project easements associated with each potential lease issued and grants for subsea cable corridors in the New York Bight.
- Notice to Stakeholders (NTS) of Availability of New York Bight Draft EA
- Draft EA and Appendices: Commercial and Research Wind Lease and Grant Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf of the New York Bight
- Notice to Stakeholders (NTS) of Extension of the Comment Period for New York Bight Draft EA
The availability of this EA initiated a 30-day public comment period. The public comment period was subsequently extended to September 23, 2021. During the public comment period, BOEM hosted two virtual meetings to allow the public to learn more about the draft EA, ask questions, and provide oral testimony.
The virtual meetings were held on:
- Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 5:00 PM Eastern
- Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 1:00 PM Eastern
For more information, please see: NY Bight Virtual Meeting Room.
Notice to Stakeholders
On March 29, 2021, BOEM released a Notice to Stakeholders (NTS) announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider the potential environmental consequences of site characterization activities (i.e., biological, archeological, geological, and geophysical surveys and core samples) and site assessment activities (i.e., installation of meteorological buoys) associated with issuing commercial and research wind energy leases in the WEAs, project easements associated with each lease issued, and grants for subsea cable corridors in the New York Bight. BOEM received approximately 3,000 comment letters during the 30-day scoping period (Docket number BOEM-2021-0021), which are available at https://www.regulations.gov/document/BOEM-2021-0021-0002/comment.