On March 25, 2022, the Biden-Harris administration issued a press release announcing a May 11, 2022, wind energy auction of 110,091 acres in the Carolina Long Bay offshore wind energy area off North Carolina’s coast. This announcement marks a tangible step closer to the Biden-Harris administration and state of North Carolina’s clean energy goals of achieving 30 GW and 2.8 GW, respectively, of offshore wind power by 2030.

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 the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s final sale notice. The two lease areas include similar acreage, distance to shore and wind resource potential.

President Biden sought to position the offshore wind energy industry for economic growth and job creation by announcing the first-ever national offshore wind energy goal on March 29, 2021. He reinforced this goal through his Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Businesses seeking to expand their renewable energy footprint and diversify their energy sources are seriously considering offshore wind as a viable and sustainable investment. If you have any questions regarding the May 11 sale, please contact the authors noted below.