Notice2024-29358
Notice of Availability of Determination of Competitive Interest in Wind Energy Area Options C and D in the Gulf of Mexico
Primary source
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Published
December 13, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentOcean Energy Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of its determination of competitive interest in the areas identified in the prior notice, "Potential Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf-Request for Competitive Interest," which was published in the Federal Register on July 29, 2024. BOEM published the request for competitive interest (RFCI) after receiving an unsolicited request from Hecate Energy Gulf Wind LLC expressing interest in acquiring a commercial wind energy lease for wind energy area (WEA) options C and D in the Gulf of Mexico. In response to the RFCI, BOEM received one expression of interest from Invenergy GOM Offshore Wind LLC. Upon review of the proposals, BOEM has determined that competitive interest exists in the RFCI Areas and will move forward with the next competitive lease sale process in the Gulf of Mexico.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 240 (Friday, December 13, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 101047-101048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29358]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2024-0039]
Notice of Availability of Determination of Competitive Interest
in Wind Energy Area Options C and D in the Gulf of Mexico
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the
availability of its determination of competitive interest in the areas
identified in the prior notice, ``Potential Commercial Leasing for Wind
Power Development on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf-Request
for Competitive Interest,'' which was published in the Federal Register
on July 29, 2024. BOEM published the request for competitive interest
(RFCI) after receiving an unsolicited request from Hecate Energy Gulf
Wind LLC expressing interest in acquiring a commercial wind energy
lease for wind energy area (WEA) options C and D in the Gulf of Mexico.
In response to the RFCI, BOEM received one expression of interest from
Invenergy GOM Offshore Wind LLC. Upon review of the proposals, BOEM has
determined that competitive interest exists in the RFCI Areas and will
move forward with the next competitive lease sale process in the Gulf
of Mexico.
ADDRESSES: The determination of competitive interest memorandum is
available on BOEM's website at <a href="https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/gulf-mexico-activities">https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/gulf-mexico-activities</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karoline DiPerna, BOEM Office of
Leasing and Plans, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana
70123, (504) 736-5722, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d0bbb1a2bfbcb9beb5feb4b9a0b5a2beb190b2bfb5bdfeb7bfa6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="046f65766b686d6a612a606d7461766a6544666b61692a636b72">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose
This public notice documents the review and analysis of materials
submitted by Invenergy GOM Offshore Wind LLC (hereinafter, Invenergy)
(Company #15177) expressing interest in acquiring a commercial wind
energy lease in response to the RFCI published in the Federal Register
on July 29, 2024 at 89 FR 60913. BOEM published the RFCI in response to
an unsolicited request from Hecate Energy Gulf Wind LLC (hereafter,
Hecate Energy) (Company #15166) to acquire a commercial wind energy
lease in Gulf of Mexico WEA options C and D.
Background
On February 16, 2024, BOEM received an unsolicited request from
Hecate Energy expressing interest in acquiring a wind energy lease for
WEA options C and D. After determining that Hecate Energy is qualified
to hold a wind energy lease in these areas, BOEM published an RFCI
pursuant to subsection 8(p)(3) of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3)) and BOEM's implementing regulations at
30 CFR 585.231. Subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act requires OCS
renewable energy leases, easements, and rights-of-way to be issued ``on
a competitive basis unless the Secretary determines after public notice
of a lease, easement, or right-of-way that there is no competitive
interest.'' The RFCI provided public notice of Hecate Energy's
unsolicited lease request and invited the submission of indications of
competitive interest in commercial wind energy leases within the RFCI
areas as well as stakeholder feedback. The RFCI provided that if BOEM
received one or more indications of competitive interest from qualified
entities that wish to develop a commercial wind energy project in the
RFCI areas, BOEM may decide to move forward with a competitive lease
issuance process following the procedures set forth in 30 CFR 585.210
through 585.226. Based on those procedures, if BOEM receives no
competing expressions of interest from qualified companies, BOEM can
decide to move forward with the lease issuance process using the
noncompetitive procedures contained in 30 CFR 585.231.
RFCI Response
BOEM received 18 comments during the RFCI comment period, including
one expression of interest from Invenergy. Invenergy is qualified
legally, financially, and technically for this specific submission
pursuant to 30 CFR 585.107 and 585.108. Many of the comments addressed
concerns about the suitability of the RFCI areas for leasing. To the
extent they are relevant, BOEM will take all the comments it received
during the RFCI comment period into consideration as it moves forward
with the competitive leasing process.
Findings
BOEM has deemed both Hecate Energy and Invenergy to be legally,
technically, and financially qualified to hold an OCS renewable energy
lease in the Gulf of Mexico. Their submittals included all the required
information outlined in the RFCI and 30 CFR 585.231.
Hecate Energy's proposed project would consist of up to 133 fixed-
bottom wind turbine generators (WTGs), each with a capacity of 15-23
megawatts (MW), with an overall maximum capacity of approximately 2,000
MW. Each turbine would be deployed on fixed monopile or jacket
foundation types. Hecate Energy narrowed its selections to three points
of interconnection within Texas and Louisiana and continues to examine
12 potential landfall locations with paths to three designated
substations. Export cables would run separately from each of the two
lease areas, or the lease areas would be joined offshore with one
substation and one central export cable. Hecate Energy's full
application can be found online at <a href="https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/gulf-mexico-activities">https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/gulf-mexico-activities</a>.
Invenergy's proposed project would consist of up to 140
competitively selected and commercially available turbines, with
expected capacities of more than 15 MW, for a total project capacity of
up to 2,500 MW. WTG units would be connected via inter-array cables to
1-4 offshore substations, which would connect to an offshore export
cable that would carry the power to shore. Structures would be designed
to international standards, such as those from the International
Electrotechnical Commission, to ensure they can maintain structural
reliability in high load cases. Invenergy's full expression of interest
can be found online at https://www.boem.gov/renewable-
[[Page 101048]]
energy/state-activities/gulf-mexico-activities.
Based on the information provided to BOEM in the unsolicited lease
application from Hecate Energy and the response to the RFCI from
Invenergy, BOEM finds that both qualified entities have submitted all
the information that is required by the Department regulations (30 CFR
585.231); therefore, BOEM finds there is competitive interest in WEA
options C and D. As a result of this finding, BOEM will move forward
with the competitive lease issuance process following the procedures
set forth in 30 CFR 585.210 through 585.226, including holding the next
competitive lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico as soon as 2026.
Elizabeth Klein,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-29358 Filed 12-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
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