"The Biden administration advanced the first potential floating offshore wind auctions off the Oregon coast Tuesday by designating where sales might be located.

The move follows requests by the state’s delegation and Democratic governor to allow for more public input into the growing renewable industry in the northwest Pacific Ocean.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said Tuesday it has designated two draft wind energy areas. The first potential lease area sits 18 miles from shore at the state’s border with California. The second area lies farther north, 32 miles from the coastline at Coos Bay.

The draft wind areas could support up to 2.6 gigawatts of offshore wind farms."

Heather Richards reports for E&E News August 15, 2023. [2]