Rouzer Applauds Announcement of the North Carolina Offshore Wind Energy Lease Sale

Press Release

Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07) today issued the following statement after the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced that it will hold a wind energy auction in the Carolina Long Bay area offshore North Carolina and South Carolina on May 11, 2022:

"As the Russian war on Ukraine and freedom underscores, it is critical for America to be energy dominant in oil and natural gas as well as renewables. I have always supported an all-of-the-above energy strategy, and today's announcement will ensure North Carolina becomes the natural leader in offshore wind energy it is poised to be. It will also help provide an economic shot in the arm for many communities that desperately need it. Done correctly, these offshore wind projects will be a win-win for everyone -- out of sight from shore -- benefiting tourism, enhancing the fisheries, while also creating good jobs and bringing new investment to Southeastern North Carolina.

"I'm also pleased the viewshed concerns of constituents were addressed by reducing the WEA by 14%. This ensures any turbines will be even further from shore."

According to BOEM, if developed, the lease areas could result in at least 1.3 gigawatts of offshore wind energy, enough to power nearly 500,000 homes.? The Carolina Long Bay offshore wind energy auction will allow offshore wind developers to bid on one or both of the lease areas within the Wilmington East Wind Energy Area, as described in BOEM's Final Sale Notice, which will publish in the Federal Register on March 28. The two lease areas include similar acreage, distance to shore, and wind resource potential.

Background:

On April 8, 2021, Rouzer and Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) led the North Carolina delegation in sending a letter to the BOEM Director Amanda Lefton expressing support for the Bureau's efforts to promptly and responsibly advance lease sales of existing wind energy areas (WEAs) and identify new WEAs off the coast of North Carolina.

In June 2021, Rouzer hosted a meeting with BOEM expressing his support for the wind industry in Southeastern North Carolina and asked again for BOEM to respect viewshed concerns.

On January 7, 2022, Rouzer joined Senator Burr, Senator Tillis, and Congressman Greg Murphy (NC-03) in sending a letter to the BOEM Director Amanda Lefton requesting that any development off the Wilmington coast receive similar consideration as the Kitty Hawk WEA.

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