Sec. 121. Offshore wind generation and leasing
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Section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1337(p) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: In this paragraph: The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The term draft offshore wind energy area has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the COLLABORATE Act . The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the COLLABORATE Act . The term offshore wind energy area has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the COLLABORATE Act .
The term Tribal organization has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the COLLABORATE Act . The Secretary, in accordance with clause (ii), shall publish, periodically update, and issue public notice with respect to, a 5-year schedule of areas in which an offshore wind energy area may be available for leasing in the future for purposes of offshore wind energy generation. A leasing schedule published under subclause
(I)shall— be reviewed, and, as determined by the Secretary to be necessary, updated not less frequently than once every 2 years; to the maximum extent practicable, indicate— the timing of area identification activities; the timing of designation of any area to be leased within the applicable area; and the timing of each lease sale; and provide an update on the status of each existing offshore wind energy area. Subject to subclause (III), for each area identified in a lease schedule published under clause (i)(I) or for each research lease granted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Secretary and the Administrator shall each appoint a designated liaison from their agencies to conduct outreach to potentially affected groups, including— States; local communities; fishermen; Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations; and other potentially affected groups, as determined by the Secretary and the Administrator. For each area identified in a lease schedule published under clause (i)(I), the Secretary and the Administrator may discontinue a designated liaison if, following a request for information and call for interest, there is no commercial interest in offshore wind in the applicable area. This clause shall not apply to a draft offshore wind energy area on the outer Continental Shelf existing prior to the date of enactment of the COLLABORATE Act . Beginning 2 years after the date of enactment of the COLLABORATE Act , for each area included in a lease schedule published under clause (i)(I), the Secretary shall— conduct an area impact study to evaluate the potential impact on the human, marine, and coastal environments of the development of wind energy in that area, in order to inform the identification of draft offshore wind energy areas in that area; and provide an opportunity for public comment for not less than 30 days. In carrying out an area impact study under subclause (I), the Secretary may— consider the compatibility of development of offshore wind energy in the applicable area with regional and State climate, energy, and conservation planning; use information from available assessments from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, such as integrated ecosystem assessments; identify areas for which there is insufficient science, mapping, and data; and undertake additional data collection efforts where science, mapping, and data are found to be insufficient. In carrying out an area impact study under subclause (I), the Secretary shall incorporate and use the best available existing science and data, including, at a minimum, appropriate suitability models such as the spatial suitability models developed by the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The Secretary may use the data and assessments from area impact studies conducted under this clause in determining which portions of an area or region the Secretary should be made available for leasing. To the extent practicable and as applicable, other Federal agencies may consider the data and assessments from area impact studies conducted under this clause in making permitting and authorization decisions. An area impact study conducted by the Secretary under subclause
(I)shall not be considered a major Federal action. In conducting an area impact study under subclause (I), the Secretary may consult with, and request assistance from, other Federal agencies. An area impact study conducted under subclause
(I)shall be completed in not more than 2 years. On commencement of an area impact study under clause (iii), the Secretary, in collaboration with the Administrator, may award capacity grants to relevant individuals and entities in the applicable region to enhance engagement opportunities relating to environmental reviews, permitting activities, or other authorizations. Grants awarded under this clause shall be for— enabling States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, fishermen, universities, and nonprofit organizations that represent the fishing industry or other potentially affected communities and ocean users to compile data, conduct impartial analyses, objectively educate groups and communities, and complete other activities relating to offshore wind environmental reviews, permits, and consultations; engaging in planning activities and in the development of offshore wind for the purposes of— determining potential economic, social, public health, cultural, and environmental impacts; and identifying opportunities to mitigate those potentially negative impacts; facilitating wind energy siting; and training, hiring of personnel, and other activities designed to increase the capacity of States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, universities, and nonprofit organizations, as applicable, to carry out activities described in items
(aa)through (cc). There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this clause $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, of which not less than 2 percent shall be allocated each fiscal year for use by Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. Taking into account the results of public and group engagement and the call for interest under clause (ii), any applicable area impact study under clause (iii), any community engagement activities under clause (iv), and other factors as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may identify an area as a draft offshore wind energy area. In identifying draft offshore wind energy areas under subclause (I), the Secretary shall consider— potential power capacity; commercial viability; existing and future onshore and offshore transmission availability and capacity; conflicts with other potential ocean uses, resources, and users; prevailing wind direction and minimal wake effects; distance to shore port infrastructure; and other requirements under paragraph (4). For purposes relating to the identification of draft offshore wind energy areas, the Secretary and the Administrator shall— engage potentially affected groups identified under clause (ii)(I); and consult with— relevant Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces established by the Secretary; relevant regional ocean partnerships; fishery management councils; and interstate fisheries commissions. Activities described in subsection (b)(1) of section 204 of the COLLABORATE Act that are carried out in an area for which a leasing schedule is published under clause (i)(I) shall be eligible for funding provided from the Offshore Wind and Fisheries Coexistence Fund established by subsection (a)(1) of that section. The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, shall require offshore wind lease holders to include fisheries compensation as part of the leasing process for offshore wind energy, in accordance with section 34(b). .
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Sec. 121
Offshore wind generation and leasing
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