But building and operating wind farms in the Gulf comes at an environmental cost. Offshore wind turbines can help countries transition to using more clean energy and slow human-caused climate change, which has been spurred by the burning of fossil fuels. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said in a statement. “By catalyzing the offshore wind energy potential of the Gulf of Mexico, we can tackle the climate crisis, lower energy costs for families and create good-paying jobs,” U.S. They’ve approved three commercial-scale projects for construction so far. The Gulf parcels will add to the few dozen active commercial leases federal officials already issued, most recently near California. The leases are expected to be able to generate some 3.7 gigawatts of power, or enough for almost 1.3 million homes.Īlong with the leases near Texas, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management offered a site for wind power to be built off the coast of Louisiana. Companies suggest the energy could also be used to produce hydrogen, which in turn could fuel planes or long-haul trucks. When they’re built, the wind turbines could feed energy into the Texas power grid. Environmental advocates, fishermen and other energy companies all have a stake in what happens. After that, putting together the construction and operation plans will likely take years. 29, and the highest bidders will win the leases. Both businesses are already involved in developing wind power in the Atlantic, including near New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. Leaders of the traditionally fossil fuel-focused companies say their climate goals make investing in offshore wind critical. Renewable energy developers will likely compete for the leases with firms that are better known for another kind of offshore construction: Oil and gas giants such as Shell and TotalEnergies qualified to join the bidding. GALVESTON The federal government on Thursday announced the first-ever chance for companies to lease areas in the Gulf of Mexico to build wind farms, including two parcels roughly 30 miles off the Texas coast near Galveston.

Companies can now bid on the leases, which are located off the Texas and Louisiana coasts.

The federal government on Thursday announced the first three offshore wind energy leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

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