Offshore Wind Wire

By William Morgan

The Department of the Interior took a major step forward last week with its emerging offshore wind leasing process when it issued the first request for interest for offshore wind.

Interior officials issued the RFI for federal waters near Delaware.  The department’s Minerals Management Service has been holding task force meetings with several states to develop an leasing process.  The request was posted in the Federal Register on April 26 for submerged land situated about 7.5 miles from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.  The area was determined by federal officials and the Delaware task force.

“We have been working closely with Delaware officials on the future development of renewable energy in federal waters off their coast,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said.

Developers who are interested in the parcel must deliver their submissions to the Minerals Management Service by June 25.  The agency will determine if there is competitive interest and decide whether a bidding process is justified.

“We are proud to be the first state for which MMS will issue an offshore wind request for interest,” Delaware Gov. Jack Markell said.