“The success of this lease sale reflects the continued interest of coastal communities to develop their offshore energy resources,” said Secretary Zinke. “Renewable energy, like offshore wind, is one tool in the all-of-the-above energy toolbox that will help power America with domestic energy, securing energy independence, and bolstering the economy. This is a big win for collaborative efforts with state, local, and private sector partners.”
Kitty Hawk is the first large-scale renewable energy lease that has occurred under the Trump Administration. According to a press released published by DOI, the auction was competitive and accommodated several other bidders including, “Wind Future LLC, Statoil Wind US LLC, and WPD Offshore Alpha LLC.”
In January, Republican lawmakers lobbied then-President-elect Donald Trump to shut down Avangrid’s inland North Carolina wind farm on national security grounds. That farm represents a $400 million project, it is now fully operable, and it provides power for Amazon web services who blamed the lobbying effort on politics, not security issues.
