The federal government announced Wednesday that it has awarded two new offshore wind energy leases in the Mid-Atlantic — one off the coast of Delaware, the other near the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay in southern Virginia.
The two projects, totaling almost 278,000 acres, brought in more than $92 million in bids at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) auction. They were the first offshore wind leases to be awarded in the Mid-Atlantic in a decade, and come at a time when several wind turbine projects, including one off the coast of Ocean City, are inching forward.
“Today’s lease sale represents a major milestone in meeting the demand for clean renewable energy along the East Coast,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “BOEM remains committed to responsible offshore wind energy development in the Central Atlantic region in a manner that avoids, reduces or mitigates potential…
