What's New?
On May 11, 2022, BOEM held an offshore wind auction for two lease areas in the Carolina Long Bay. The lease sale drew competitive winning bids from two companies totaling approximately $315 million. To see the results of the auction, go to: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/carolina-long-bay.
Efforts Underway
There is one ongoing activity offshore South Carolina:
Public Engagement
BOEM coordinates Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) renewable energy activities offshore South Carolina through its Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force, which is made up of representatives from federal, state, local and tribal governments. BOEM also coordinates public information meetings to help keep interested stakeholders updated on renewable energy milestones occurring offshore South Carolina. To obtain information discussed during these meetings click on the links below. •
Environmental Studies
BOEM has funded or considered numerous studies to collect information about the marine environment to support decisions concerning offshore renewable energy development. For more information, please visit http://www.boem.gov/South-Carolina-Environmental-Studies/.
Related Press Releases
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces Winners of Carolina Long Bay Offshore Wind Energy Auction (5/11/2022)
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces First Wind Energy Lease Sale Offshore the Carolinas (3/25/2022)
- Interior Department Takes Action to Advance Offshore Wind in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (10/28/2021)
- BOEM to Supplement Environmental Review of Wind Leasing Options Offshore the Carolinas (8/13/2021)
- Interior Department Launches Leasing Process for Commercial Wind Energy Offshore South Carolina (11/23, 2015)
South Carolina Call for Information and Nominations
Nov. 23, 2015: BOEM published a Call for Information and Nominations (Call) in the Federal Register for a 60-day public comment period to gauge the offshore wind industry's interest in acquiring commercial wind leases in four areas offshore South Carolina and to request comments regarding site conditions, resources and other uses within the Call areas. The comment period ended on January 25, 2016. Materials related to the Call are below.
- The South Carolina Call for Information and Nominations (November 23, 2015)
- Map of the South Carolina Call Areas
Environmental Review
Nov. 23, 2015: In addition to the Call, BOEM published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) in the Federal Register (under Docket ID: BOEM-2015-0125). Through the NOI, BOEM sought public comment for determining issues and alternatives to be analyzed in the EA. The EA will consider potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts associated with issuing commercial wind leases and approving site assessment activities on the lease areas. The NOI included a 60-day public comment period, which closed on January 25, 2016.
Aug. 13, 2021: BOEM announced that it would prepare a supplemental Environmental Assessment to consider additional wind leasing options offshore North Carolina and South Carolina. Specifically, BOEM considered a lease sale for the Wilmington East (now Carolina Long Bay) Wind Energy Area located offshore North and South Carolina. The announcement initiated a 30-day public comment period that ended on September 12, 2021.
Dec. 8, 2021: BOEM announced the availability of a draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) of potential impacts from the issuance of leases within the Wilmington East (now Carolina Long Bay) WEA. More specifically, the draft SEA considered potential environmental consequences of site characterization activities (i.e., biological, archeological, geological, and geophysical surveys and core samples) and site assessment activities (i.e., installation of meteorological buoys). The draft SEA also looked at surveying potential cable corridors, which could include corridors that extend from the WEA to the onshore energy grid.
Mar. 25, 2022: BOEM completed its final Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) of potential impacts from the issuance of commercial wind energy leasing activities offshore North Carolina. The final SEA assesses potential impacts from the issuance of leases in the Wilmington East (now Carolina Long Bay) WEA. Potential impacts include those that could occur from site characterization activities (i.e., shallow hazards, geological, geotechnical, archeological, and biological surveys of the lease area and potential cable routes) and site assessment activities (i.e., installation and operation of meteorological buoys) associated with issuing wind energy leases in the WEA. Based on the analysis in the final SEA, BOEM has issued a finding of no significant impact.
Commercial Leases
May 11, 2022: BOEM held an offshore wind auction for two lease areas (part of the previously identified Wilmington East [now Carolina Long Bay] Wind Energy Area identified in April 2014). The lease sale drew competitive winning bids from two companies totaling approximately $315 million. TotalEnergies Renewable USA, LLC which bid $160 million was the winner of lease OCS-A 0545 and Duke Energy Renewables Wind, LLC which bid $155 million was the winner of lease OCS-A 0546.Additional information about the Carolina Long Bay lease areas can be found through this link: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/carolina-long-bay
A summary of the bidding results can be found through this link: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/round-round-atlw-9-carolina-long-bay