What Could Offshore Wind Mean for Oregon?
Learn more about how offshore wind could impact our economy, our environment, and our communities.
Our Economy
Renewable energy is a growth industry. Take a closer look at what offshore wind could mean for Oregon families, workers, businesses, and the local economy.
Our Environment
From devastating wildfires to droughts and extreme heat, rising sea levels and ocean acidification, Oregon is already experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis. How can offshore wind help Oregon meet our clean energy targets?
Our Community
Oregonians deserve a say in our energy future. Learn more about how local communities, Tribes, conservation and wildlife advocates, commercial fishers, labor unions and other stakeholders can shape offshore wind development off our coast — and how you can get involved.
Offshore Wind Process
Developing offshore wind in Oregon is a lengthy process. In 2024, any development would be nearly a decade in the future. Learn about how we got here, what’s happening now, and how you can get informed and engaged.
Call for Information and Nominations: Offshore Wind “Call Areas” are Identified
April 2022: after a year of study, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) released two “call areas” off the coast of south-central and southern Oregon. These were broad areas that could potentially be feasible for offshore wind development. This opened the process for public comment and further environmental study to help determine feasibility.
Why This Step is Important: This was a 60-day opportunity for residents and other stakeholders to voice their support, concerns, or general comments on possible offshore wind development within a specific geographic area. Those comments were added to the public record and reviewed by BOEM.
Draft Wind Energy Areas: Call Areas Were Narrowed to Draft “Wind Energy Areas (WEA)”
August 2023: Based on public feedback and modeling, BOEM reduced the size of the areas for potential offshore wind development. These draft “Wind Energy Areas”, were located between 18 and 32 nautical miles off the coast of Coos Bay and Brookings. At the request of the Governor and other elected officials, the comment period was doubled from 30 days to 60 days to allow for robust public participation.
Why This Step is Important: This public comment opportunity allowed stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft WEAs as well as the methods BOEM and National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science used to incorporate public, stakeholder, and expert input to deconflict and de-risk potential sites. More than 1,000 public comments were submitted.
Final Wind Energy Areas Were Published
February 2024: BOEM released two final wind energy areas for possible offshore wind development. The areas are located 18 miles off the coast of Brookings and 32 miles off the coast of Coos Bay. BOEM selected these areas, which were reduced from larger “draft” areas proposed in 2023, based on public feedback, modeling, and further study.
Why This Step is Important: These are the final areas where offshore wind development in Oregon could occur — but this step does not guarantee that development will happen. Any development hinges on a successful assessment of the sites, environmental study, and bids from developers.
How is climate change affecting Oregon?
Extreme heat, fires and droughts are having a serious impact on Oregon families, communities and our economy. The 2020 Labor Day fires wiped out entire neighborhoods, over the past several years, higher-than-average temperatures have killed hundreds of people, and Oregon was one of the first places in the world to witness the impacts of ocean acidification, causing a collapse of oyster hatchery production. Our seawalls, jetties, roads, and highways are facing hazards made worse by climate change: rising sea levels, increased flooding, greater erosion, and more.
To combat the climate crisis, Oregon has essential goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions — and offshore wind is a critical way for us to meet those goals and protect our communities from the greatest and costliest consequences of the climate crisis.
Offshore Wind FAQs
Find answers to commonly asked questions and links to trusted resources to learn more.
- Q: What is offshore wind?
A: As more communities face the devastating effects of climate change and rising energy prices, offshore wind has become an increasingly important renewable energy source to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels — both in the U.S. and around the world. Here’s how it works: Wind turbines are either affixed to the bottom of the ocean floor or they float within a set radius while attached to cables. Wind flows over the blades, causing them to spin. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator to produce electricity. That electricity is then channeled onshore via transmission lines.
- Q: Why is the Oregon Coast being considered for offshore wind development?
A: The Oregon Coast has some of the strongest sustained winds on the West Coast. Under current proposals, winds off the Oregon Coast are expected to generate as much as 3 gigawatts of power — enough to provide electricity for 1 million homes in Oregon and beyond.
Offshore wind is also widely considered a critical way to help meet Oregon’s goals for reducing climate pollution. Under state law, we will have 100% clean electricity by 2040. Oregon is not alone in exploring offshore wind: In states up and down the east and west coasts of the United States, offshore wind projects are open, under consideration, or already under development.
- Q: What specific areas on the coast are being considered for offshore wind development?
A: The two areas currently under consideration are located between 18 and 32 miles off the coast of Brookings and Coos Bay. They are known as Wind Energy Areas. The size of these areas was reduced after extensive public comment and review to identify potential conflicts with wildlife, commercial fishing, shipping, and other ocean uses.
- Q: Who is in charge of this process?
A: Both federal and state agencies are involved in offshore wind development because while any project would be sited far offshore in federal waters, the energy would be transmitted to shore through state waters. There are several interlocking state and federal laws and protections that must be followed.
At the federal level, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is responsible for issuing leases and permits to developers and conducting environmental assessments for offshore wind projects in areas beyond state waters. They are the lead agency for siting and permitting any offshore wind projects off Oregon’s coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is consulted to assess and help mitigate any potential impacts to marine life, and NOAA Fisheries [same as NMFS] similarly assesses and mitigates impacts to fisheries.
At the state level, the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) works to ensure that any offshore wind projects align with state policies, regulations, and coastal zone management requirements. The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) is also involved in ensuring that any offshore wind projects are consistent with the state’s renewable energy goals and standards.
News & Research
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has postponed October’s planned offshore wind lease sale in Oregon as advocates look to the state’s Roadmap process for deeper engagement.
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“A new report from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory shows that along a 200-mile stretch of ocean off the coast of southern Oregon and northern California, floating wind farms could potentially triple the Pacific Northwest’s wind power capacity while offsetting potentially billions of dollars in costs for utilities, ratepayers, insurance companies, and others across the West who bear the cost of climate change’s effects.”
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“As the Biden-Harris Administration accelerates the leasing of federal waters for offshore wind development … we must stand firm and demand the inclusion of historically marginalized host communities”
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