The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has scheduled three meetings along the southern Oregon coast to discuss potential offshore wind development and its impacts on communities, industry and the environment.

Meetings will be Sept. 26 in Gold Beach, Sept. 27 in Coos Bay and Sept. 28 in Brookings.

As part of the Biden administration’s goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, BOEM has identified two “wind energy areas” off the Oregon coast that could become home to floating wind farms.

The areas cover a combined 343 square miles of ocean, between 18 and 32 miles off the coast near Coos Bay and Brookings.

Average annual wind speeds range from 19 to 23 mph, with water depths averaging 3,044 to 3,864 feet, according to BOEM.

In its analysis of the areas, BOEM states that Oregon “has substantial offshore wind resources, with some of the highest annual average wind speeds in the country.” State lawmakers also passed House Bill 2021, which requires investor-owned utilities to supply carbon-free electricity by 2040.

But tribes and commercial fishermen have raised concerns that floating wind turbines anchored to the ocean floor will displace them from prime fishing grounds within the California Current, and could harm the marine ecosystem.

Fisheries identified in the two areas include Pacific whiting, albacore tuna, pink shrimp and Dungeness crab.

Brad Kneaper, chairman of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, said the tribes support any renewable energy development project — so long as it follows the law and does not harm local fishing jobs, the environment or tribal cultural resources.

“We cannot support offshore wind development until we are provided assurance that it will do good and not harm the tribe, its members, and the greater community,” Kneaper said.

Gov. Tina Kotek and members of Oregon’s congressional delegation have urged BOEM to more carefully consider these issues. In response, the agency announced it would hold a 60-day public comment period through Oct. 16.

“As BOEM works to identify potential areas for offshore wind development, we continue to prioritize a robust and transparent process, including ongoing engagement with tribal governments, agency partners, the fishing community and other ocean users,” BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein said in a statement.

Along with the three in-person meetings, BOEM will meet virtually with the Oregon Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force on Sept. 18.

An informational webinar focused on fishing data is also scheduled for Sept. 21.

For more information about the Oregon draft wind energy areas, visit www.boem.gov.

Gold Beach

Tuesday, Sept. 26.

4-8 p.m.

Event Center at the Beach.

29392 Ellensburg Ave.

Coos Bay

Wednesday, Sept. 27.

4-8 p.m.

Coos Bay Public Library

525 Anderson Ave.

Brookings

Thursday, Sept. 28

4-8 p.m.

Southwest Oregon Community College.

96082 Lone Ranch Parkway.  

Virtual Oregon Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force Meeting 

Monday, Sept. 18.

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Register here.

Informational fishing webinar

Thursday, Sept. 21.

5-8 p.m.

Register here.

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