WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of the Interior’s advancement of a proposed offshore wind lease in the Gulf of Mexico, marking the first time this area would be open to this clean energy technology, underscores the Biden Administration’s commitment to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.

“Responsibly developed offshore wind energy can play a crucial role in transforming to a clean energy economy while bringing jobs and economic investments to the Gulf, which has been losing oil and gas jobs for a decade,” said Helen Rose Patterson, senior campaign manager for offshore wind at the National Wildlife Federation. “This moves us closer to bringing this technology, along with clean energy capacity and economic investments, to the Gulf. We look forward to working with the Interior Department, wildlife experts, and companies to ensure that potential offshore wind projects avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to migratory birds, marine mammals, sea floor habitat, and deliver benefits to coastal communities.”

The assessment by the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management used robust spatial analysis to ensure that the Wind Energy areas being offered are well-sited to avoid significant wildlife impacts, including to the critically endangered Rice’s whale, and the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Learn more about the National Wildlife Federation’s work on offshore wind.