WASHINGTON, D.C. — The first offshore wind auction in the Gulf of Mexico marks a new step forward for the adoption of this clean energy technology around the country. The winning $5.6 million bid has the potential to bring hundreds of jobs to the area while powering 435,000 homes with clean, non-polluting sources of energy. 

“The first Gulf of Mexico offshore wind lease auction opens the door for an energy transformation that will mitigate and address the impacts of climate change that the region is already experiencing. People in the Gulf have an opportunity to be part of building an energy system that not only provides clean energy, but actively works to unravel the harms that the current energy system has inflicted on our environment and our communities,” said Helen Rose Patterson, senior campaign manager for offshore wind energy at the National Wildlife Federation. “We are proud to have worked with BOEM throughout the process and we applaud their approach for seeking to avoid wildlife impacts, and look forward to continuing to shape responsible development. We also look forward to working with decisionmakers in Louisiana and Texas to ensure that the policies are in place to foster this growing industry and take advantage of the economic opportunities it will bring our region.”

RWE Offshore US Gulf, LLC was the provisional winner of the lease, which will result in over $860,000 in investments for workforce training and creating a domestic supply chain and $430,000 for the fisheries mitigation fund.

Learn more about the National Wildlife Federation’s work on offshore wind.