Oregon
Abundant electricity created by offshore wind can bring 100% renewable energy to Oregon.
Why offshore wind?
Reliable Clean Energy
Electricity demand in Oregon is skyrocketing, while threats like wildfire threaten our electrical grid’s reliability. Offshore wind would improve grid reliability and bring abundant clean power to the state, helping us meet our growing demand for energy.
Economic Revitalization
With world class ocean winds, Oregon is a prime candidate for the next frontier of floating offshore wind. A responsibly developed Oregon offshore wind industry could revitalize coastal communities, bringing jobs and boosting the economy throughout the supply chain.
The Oregon Way
Through Oregon’s own state-led processes and rigorous layers of review, we can move forward with confidence that offshore wind projects in Oregon will meet extremely high standards for the environment, labor, Tribes, communities, and more.
A new industry for Oregon in a clean energy future
Offshore wind can create thousands of union-represented manufacturing, installation, and maintenance jobs while supporting the development of a highly skilled workforce. It also supports indirect jobs in planning, construction, and management of port readiness, plus additional indirect jobs in service-related fields.
With offshore wind being developed in California as well, Oregon is in a strong position to be both a producer of offshore wind energy and a a player in the regional supply chain. Exact numbers of jobs will depend upon how much offshore wind Oregon plans to build, and the role the state aims to play in the regional supply chain.
The climate crisis is here, and Oregon is experiencing the impacts of climate change firsthand. Offshore wind produces clean, reliable energy and reduces our dependence on imported, polluting fuels. Building offshore wind will enhance Oregon’s energy independence while promoting a strong Oregonian economy.
A new industry for Oregon in a clean energy future
Offshore wind can create thousands of union-represented manufacturing, installation, and maintenance jobs while supporting the development of a highly skilled workforce. It also supports indirect jobs in planning, construction, and management of port readiness, plus additional indirect jobs in service-related fields. With offshore wind being developed in California as well, Oregon is in a strong position to be both a producer of offshore wind energy and a a player in the regional supply chain. Exact numbers of jobs will depend upon how much offshore wind Oregon plans to build, and the role the state aims to play in the regional supply chain.
The climate crisis is here, and Oregon is experiencing the impacts of climate change firsthand. Offshore wind produces clean, reliable energy and reduces our dependence on imported, polluting fuels. Building offshore wind will enhance Oregon’s energy independence while promoting a strong Oregonian economy.
Community-led decisions
Oregon’s H.B. 4080, passed in the 2024 legislative session, paved the way for the development of an Oregon Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap. This state-driven process will ensure all voices are heard in any future offshore wind decisions. The roadmap, once completed, will define the state’s standards in the processes related to offshore wind. Oregon is conducting extensive outreach and engagement to ensure all Oregonians have the opportunity for input, and is set to be completed by September 2025.
Offshore wind developers are committed to working closely with Tribes, communities and stakeholders to create projects that yield tangible benefits, through community benefit agreements, job training partnerships, and other creative collaborations. Developers will also work with other ocean users to avoid, minimize and mitigate potential ocean and coastal use conflicts.
Enhancing grid reliability and providing healthy, clean energy
Due to its vast energy potential, offshore wind will be an ideal complement to Oregon’s energy portfolio and help to ensure grid reliability and energy security statewide. Offshore wind blows consistently across the day and months of the year, filling in the gaps from solar power when the sun has set and during cloudy winter months.
Renewable energy diversity is key to maintaining grid reliability, particularly during extreme weather events like the 2024 winter cold snap and storm. Additionally, electricity usage is skyrocketing across the Northwest region as we electrify other sectors and new data centers come online, and offshore wind is key to helping fulfill that demand. As the state transitions to 100% clean electricity, we will need diverse resources that can collectively perform all hours of the year to ensure grid reliability and energy independence.
Offshore wind power off Oregon’s coast will help stabilize Oregon’s power grid and consumer energy prices by decoupling energy costs from volatile fossil fuel prices. Over the long term, transitioning to a 100% clean grid and electrification will support stable energy prices and potentially reduce total monthly home energy bills for average Oregonians, while costing significantly less than doing nothing in the face of climate change.
Offshore Wind in Oregon? The State of Play
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (or BOEM), the federal agency that leases potential offshore wind sites, has been exploring offshore wind off the coast of Oregon in earnest since 2022. In 2024, BOEM finalized two wind energy areas for leasing, and was on track to hold an auction in October. However, ahead of the auction, the agency postponed the lease sale indefinitely. This came after calls from the Governor, local tribes, and others, and the agency also cited a lack of competitive interest. BOEM did not state when a future lease auction would be held, but many factors need to be addressed for a future lease sale to be a success. The Trump administration has issued an executive order halting all new offshore wind energy leasing for now.
In the meantime, the state is leading the way by creating the Oregon Offshore Wind Roadmap.
With an Oregon Roadmap in place and more time for improvements, Oregon can ensure the state approaches offshore wind the Oregon Way.
Offshore Wind’s Timeline in Oregon
The Federal timeline from BOEM generally takes about 10 years from start to project operation. In Oregon, BOEM went through the planning and analysis phases, and then postponed its lease auction. It is unclear when the process would resume. The State, in addition to its own processes (such as the Oregon Roadmap), has the opportunity to weigh in on federal decision making through a process called federal consistency. This occurs twice: once before leasing, and once before project plans are approved.
(~2 Years)
(~1-2 Years)
(Up to 5 Years)
(~2 Years)
A timeline of offshore wind in Oregon
Oregon initiated an Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force with BOEM (initially, to explore wave energy!)
BOEM issued a “call for information” for possible leasing areas off the coast of Oregon
BOEM identified draft wind energy areas
BOEM extended its public comment period
BOEM’s wind energy areas were finalized
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signs HB4080 into law, creating a state policy on offshore wind
BOEM issued a proposed sale notice and draft environmental assessment
Oregon found that BOEM’s proposed actions were consistent with state coastal policies, with conditions
BOEM finalized its environmental review for leasing activities (only those associated with site assessment - not for projects themselves) and announced an October auction
BOEM postponed the lease auction, citing a lack of competitive developer interest
Timeline moving forward: Oregon leads the way
While it is unclear when BOEM may decide to hold a future lease auction in Oregon, the state is undergoing its own policy-making process in the meantime, which will apply to any future offshore wind projects. Oregon’s H.B. 4080, passed in the 2024 legislative session, paved the way for the development of an Oregon Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap.
This state-driven process will ensure all voices are heard in any future offshore wind decisions. The roadmap, once completed, will define the state’s standards in the processes related to offshore wind. Oregon’s Department of Land Conservation and Development, through its Ocean and Coastal Management Program, is conducting a year’s worth of outreach and engagement to ensure all Oregonians have the opportunity for input.
Timeline
Application window for applying to the Roundmap Roundtable
First meeting of Roundtable scheduled
Extensive Roadmap Roundtable meetings will occur, as well as Tribal, stakeholder, and community outreach and engagement. Then, the Roadmap itself will be drafted.
Roadmap implementation
The following will result over the course of an estimated 5 years:
- Formal Policymaking (e.g., rules, plans, codes, statutes). Creates Enforceable Policies subject to NOAA approval
- Offshore Wind Research Agenda
- Strategic Supply Chain Investments
- Key Community Conversations
- Marine Spatial Planning
Finally, once an offshore wind project reaches the federal permitting phase, any new policies that result from this process will apply to the Federal Consistency review