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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 240 (Friday, December 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 101047-101048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29358]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2024-0039]

Notice of Availability of Determination of Competitive Interest 
in Wind Energy Area Options C and D in the Gulf of Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the 
availability of its determination of competitive interest in the areas 
identified in the prior notice, ``Potential Commercial Leasing for Wind 
Power Development on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf-Request 
for Competitive Interest,'' which was published in the Federal Register 
on July 29, 2024. BOEM published the request for competitive interest 
(RFCI) after receiving an unsolicited request from Hecate Energy Gulf 
Wind LLC expressing interest in acquiring a commercial wind energy 
lease for wind energy area (WEA) options C and D in the Gulf of Mexico. 
In response to the RFCI, BOEM received one expression of interest from 
Invenergy GOM Offshore Wind LLC. Upon review of the proposals, BOEM has 
determined that competitive interest exists in the RFCI Areas and will 
move forward with the next competitive lease sale process in the Gulf 
of Mexico.

ADDRESSES: The determination of competitive interest memorandum is 
available on BOEM's website at https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/gulf-mexico-activities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karoline DiPerna, BOEM Office of 
Leasing and Plans, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123, (504) 736-5722, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose

    This public notice documents the review and analysis of materials 
submitted by Invenergy GOM Offshore Wind LLC (hereinafter, Invenergy) 
(Company #15177) expressing interest in acquiring a commercial wind 
energy lease in response to the RFCI published in the Federal Register 
on July 29, 2024 at 89 FR 60913. BOEM published the RFCI in response to 
an unsolicited request from Hecate Energy Gulf Wind LLC (hereafter, 
Hecate Energy) (Company #15166) to acquire a commercial wind energy 
lease in Gulf of Mexico WEA options C and D.

Background

    On February 16, 2024, BOEM received an unsolicited request from 
Hecate Energy expressing interest in acquiring a wind energy lease for 
WEA options C and D. After determining that Hecate Energy is qualified 
to hold a wind energy lease in these areas, BOEM published an RFCI 
pursuant to subsection 8(p)(3) of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) 
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3)) and BOEM's implementing regulations at 
30 CFR 585.231. Subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act requires OCS 
renewable energy leases, easements, and rights-of-way to be issued ``on 
a competitive basis unless the Secretary determines after public notice 
of a lease, easement, or right-of-way that there is no competitive 
interest.'' The RFCI provided public notice of Hecate Energy's 
unsolicited lease request and invited the submission of indications of 
competitive interest in commercial wind energy leases within the RFCI 
areas as well as stakeholder feedback. The RFCI provided that if BOEM 
received one or more indications of competitive interest from qualified 
entities that wish to develop a commercial wind energy project in the 
RFCI areas, BOEM may decide to move forward with a competitive lease 
issuance process following the procedures set forth in 30 CFR 585.210 
through 585.226. Based on those procedures, if BOEM receives no 
competing expressions of interest from qualified companies, BOEM can 
decide to move forward with the lease issuance process using the 
noncompetitive procedures contained in 30 CFR 585.231.

RFCI Response

    BOEM received 18 comments during the RFCI comment period, including 
one expression of interest from Invenergy. Invenergy is qualified 
legally, financially, and technically for this specific submission 
pursuant to 30 CFR 585.107 and 585.108. Many of the comments addressed 
concerns about the suitability of the RFCI areas for leasing. To the 
extent they are relevant, BOEM will take all the comments it received 
during the RFCI comment period into consideration as it moves forward 
with the competitive leasing process.

Findings

    BOEM has deemed both Hecate Energy and Invenergy to be legally, 
technically, and financially qualified to hold an OCS renewable energy 
lease in the Gulf of Mexico. Their submittals included all the required 
information outlined in the RFCI and 30 CFR 585.231.
    Hecate Energy's proposed project would consist of up to 133 fixed-
bottom wind turbine generators (WTGs), each with a capacity of 15-23 
megawatts (MW), with an overall maximum capacity of approximately 2,000 
MW. Each turbine would be deployed on fixed monopile or jacket 
foundation types. Hecate Energy narrowed its selections to three points 
of interconnection within Texas and Louisiana and continues to examine 
12 potential landfall locations with paths to three designated 
substations. Export cables would run separately from each of the two 
lease areas, or the lease areas would be joined offshore with one 
substation and one central export cable. Hecate Energy's full 
application can be found online at https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/gulf-mexico-activities.
    Invenergy's proposed project would consist of up to 140 
competitively selected and commercially available turbines, with 
expected capacities of more than 15 MW, for a total project capacity of 
up to 2,500 MW. WTG units would be connected via inter-array cables to 
1-4 offshore substations, which would connect to an offshore export 
cable that would carry the power to shore. Structures would be designed 
to international standards, such as those from the International 
Electrotechnical Commission, to ensure they can maintain structural 
reliability in high load cases. Invenergy's full expression of interest 
can be found online at https://www.boem.gov/renewable-

[[Page 101048]]

energy/state-activities/gulf-mexico-activities.
    Based on the information provided to BOEM in the unsolicited lease 
application from Hecate Energy and the response to the RFCI from 
Invenergy, BOEM finds that both qualified entities have submitted all 
the information that is required by the Department regulations (30 CFR 
585.231); therefore, BOEM finds there is competitive interest in WEA 
options C and D. As a result of this finding, BOEM will move forward 
with the competitive lease issuance process following the procedures 
set forth in 30 CFR 585.210 through 585.226, including holding the next 
competitive lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico as soon as 2026.

Elizabeth Klein,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-29358 Filed 12-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
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