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Wind Power News: Oregon
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
“I am glad this auction has been canceled”: City of Brookings responds to BOEM wind energy plan delay
BOEM officially announced that their plans for an auction for land for an offshore wind energy project has been delayed due to a lack of interest, with some local politicians and communities calling the postponement a “win”. The City of Brookings City Council previously wrote a letter of opposition to BOEM about the project citing a lack of dialogue with the city. In response to the auction being postponed Brookings mayor Isaac Hodges said, “I’m happy that even a pause . . . Complete story »
Confederated Tribes file lawsuit to stop BOEM’s wind energy lease sale and require more extensive analysis of impacts
On Friday, the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (“Tribe”) filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) in Oregon Federal District Court. The lawsuit challenges BOEM’s cursory environmental review for the development of private offshore wind energy facilities in two areas off the Oregon Coast near Coos Bay and Brookings. Earlier this month, BOEM authorized the sale of leases in approximately 195,012 acres for wind energy development, in areas that are within . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind energy development: A David vs Goliath story
As the aggressive pursuit to privatize and industrialize our oceans with offshore wind turbine factories marches on, the small yet powerful voices of coastal communities around the nation continues to fight to be heard in the process. It is a veritable David versus Goliath story. Goliath takes many forms. Is it BOEM? The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is uncompromising in their quest to lease out our oceans to multinational corporations for industrial development. I have sat face to face . . . Complete story »
Wind turbines slated for Oregon coast by Coos Bay, Brookings?
The Federal Government’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (an arm of the Department of Interior) has announced two areas, or blocks, of ocean space off the Oregon coast, will be open to auction for leases, for the purpose of installing wind turbine farms. Two floating offshore projects are planned The two lots will be listed in the Federal Register (public notification) and the leases will be bid for on October 15th of this year. According to the BOEM, the two . . . Complete story »
Resolution authorizing litigation on wind energy development to protect tribal resources
WHEREAS: Under Article VI, Sec. 2 of the Constitution of the Confederated Tribes of Coos Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians of Oregon (“Constitution”), the Tribal Council is authorized to exercise all legislative and executive authority of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (“Tribe”); and WHEREAS: Under Article VI, Section 4 of the Constitution, all final decisions of the Tribal Council shall be embodied in ordinance or resolution; and WHEREAS: The CTCLUSI government, as stated in the . . . Complete story »
Oregon seafood industry calls on Gov. Tina Kotek to halt offshore wind energy development
Some of the most powerful and consistent winds in the world are located off the southwest Oregon coast, according to the Oregon Department of Energy. A coalition of independent fishing boat operators, seafood companies and industry groups is calling on Gov. Tina Kotek to ask the federal government to stop a planned auction for floating wind energy projects off the Oregon Coast. In a letter to Kotek on Tuesday, the more than 100 signatories said she should stop the U.S. . . . Complete story »
Tolowa Dee-ni oppose Windmill Energy
The Tolowa Dee-ni Nation announced it has passed a Resolution opposing offshore wind energy. The Nation, which covers Del Norte County and much of southwest Oregon, urges the Department of Interior and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to halt all scoping and permitting for offshore wind projects, until a comprehensive and transparent procedure is developed. The Tolowa Dee-ni is a federally recognized Indian Nation, one of 574 federally recognized tribes in the United States that depend on traditional places, foods . . . Complete story »
Crashed truck carrying wind turbine tower closes I-84 in eastern Oregon
A truck transporting a large section of a wind turbine tower crashed on westbound Interstate 84, closing both directions of the freeway between exit 304 North of Baker City and exit 374 near Ontario on Wednesday. The closure is also impacting eastbound traffic from exit 265 near La Grande to Ontario. A photo shared by the Oregon Department of Transportation shows a semitruck on its side. A wind turbine section is blocking the roadway. Transportation officials warned that the eastern . . . Complete story »
Oregon lawmakers call for pause on offshore wind energy plans
Oregon lawmakers are calling on a federal agency to postpone plans to build two offshore wind energy projects off of the Oregon coast. In a letter sent Thursday, the bipartisan Oregon Coastal Caucus outlined concerns over a lack of public engagement for the proposed Wind Energy Areas. The plans include offshore wind projects near Coos Bay and Brookings – totaling approximately 195,012 acres with 2.4 gigawatts of clean renewable energy potential. While the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said they engaged . . . Complete story »
Tribe passes resolution opposing offshore wind energy development, citing impacts to fisheries, cultural resources, and heritage
The Tribal Council of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (“Tribe”) unanimously passed a resolution expressing its opposition to offshore wind energy development off the Oregon Coast. The resolution corresponds with the deadline for comments on the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (“BOEM”) two draft Wind Energy Areas (“WEAs”) for development of wind energy in areas near Florence and Brookings. “After meetings with the Director of BOEM, it was apparent to the Tribe that . . . Complete story »
