Federal government postpones sale of floating offshore wind leases along Oregon coast
Updated 2:50 PM EDT, September 27, 2024

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The federal government postponed an auction of floating offshore wind leases off the Oregon coast on Friday after developers said they wouldn’t bid and the state’s governor asked that all leasing activities stop.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management did not set a new date for the sale. It said the decision to postpone the sale scheduled for Oct. 15 was based on “insufficient bidder interest at this time.”

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek wrote to the agency shortly before the announcement, asking it to terminate the current auction, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. Kotek cited growing concerns from coastal and fishing communities, tribes and others.

Some are concerned that the construction will harm sea life, marine habitat, culturally important areas and views of the ocean. The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians — whose culture is tied to the ocean — sued the federal government.

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