Largest US offshore wind lease auction attracts $1.5B in bids and counting

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) largest leasing auction for rights to offshore wind development attracted nearly $1.54 billion in bids on Wednesday for six areas with an estimated potential for 5,600 to 7,000 MW of development, depending on the efficiency of the turbines. BOEM said 14 bidders participated in the first day of the auction, from a total of 25 eligible bidders. BOEM did not identify the bidders, but eligible bidders include Avangrid Renewables, PSEG Renewable Generation, Equinor Wind US, and subsidiaries of EDF Renewables, BP and Shell. Provisional winners will be announced following the end of the auction. - Utility Dive