BOEM rescinds designated Wind Energy Areas on the Outer Continental Shelf

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced that it is rescinding all designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) on the US Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), effectively halting plans for new offshore wind energy projects along American coasts.

BOEM says that this action is being taken in accordance with the Interior Secretary’s Order (SO) 3437 – Ending Preferential Treatment for Unreliable, Foreign Controlled Energy Sources in Department Decision-Making – and the Presidential Memorandum of January 20, 2025 – Temporary Withdrawal of All Areas on the OCS from Offshore Wind Leasing and Review of the Federal Government’s Leasing and Permitting Practices for Wind Projects.  

WEAs were originally established to identify offshore locations deemed most suitable for wind energy development.

By rescinding the WEAs, BOEM says that it is ending the federal practice of designating large areas of the OCS for speculative wind development, and it is de-designating over 3.5 million acres of unleased federal waters previously targeted for offshore wind development across the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Maine, the New York Bight, California, Oregon, and the Central Atlantic. 

While the directive does not appear to affect lease areas that have already been awarded, it does ensure that already-suspended lease sales will not go forward.

And, Interior said that it would halt future offshore wind lease sales in federal offshore areas. As part of this policy, and under the directive, the BOEM said that it would rescind the section of its regulations that outlined the renewable energy lease sale schedule.

Previously, the BOEM had been required to publish a five-year schedule of anticipated offshore renewable energy lease sales at least every two years.

After reviewing this regulation, the Department of the Interior determined that this provision was not mandated under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and unnecessarily limits the Secretary’s discretion over scheduling renewable lease sales.

Further, under SO 3437, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said that the DoI would no longer show “any preferential treatment toward wind and solar facilities … in any Department regulations, guidance, policies, or practices.” Under the order, new wind and solar energy projects will be subject to “elevated review” and “enhanced oversight” by the federal government.

Earlier this year, a presidential memorandum had mandated a review of existing wind energy leases for potential termination or amendment, based on factors such as ecological, economic, and environmental necessity. 

Additionally, that memorandum temporarily halted new or renewed approvals, permits, leases, or loans for offshore wind projects pending a review of federal leasing and permitting practices. This could potentially impact the development timeline for projects even on existing lease areas, if those projects require new or renewed permits or other approvals.