The Interior Department on Friday canceled a proposed offshore wind auction in the Gulf of Mexico due to lukewarm interest from wind companies in the region, where wind speeds are moderate, and developers have to compete with cheap fossil energy.
But the department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management also said Friday it had been asked by a Chicago renewable company to sell two separate wind areas in the Gulf of Mexico — both off the coast of Texas’ Matagorda Bay.
“The Gulf region benefits from great offshore wind resources and existing energy infrastructure,” said BOEM’s Gulf of Mexico Regional Director James Kendall in a statement.
“As we continue to explore these opportunities, we will ensure that any potential development is done in a way that avoids, reduces, or mitigates potential impacts to ocean users and the environment,” he said.
