Texas Scorecard by Will Biagini September 9, 2024
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham has sent yet another letter to the Biden-Harris administration in opposition to a federal proposal to lease nearly 150,000 offshore acres to an energy company with no experience in wind projects.
According to Buckingham’s letter, addressed to BOEM Lease Sale Coordinator Renee Bigham, the proposal aims to lease 142,528 acres off the coast of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico to a company called Hecate Energy Gulf Wind LLC.
Yet, Hecate allegedly has zero experience with the construction of offshore wind farms. Two proposed upland wind projects currently in development constitute the organization’s entire experience in the field.
The commissioner’s letter highlighted several other concerns with the federal government’s proposal. Chiefly, offshore wind projects have a history of being financially unworkable. Further, it poses significant risks to many sea life species like the already-endangered Rice’s whale. Species of migrating birds would also be at risk.
Buckingham asserted that moving forward with the project would impact and displace local fishing communities. Hurricane paths in the Gulf would also pose another risk as they have the potential to damage wind turbines.
More:
https://texasscorecard.com/federal/texas-land-commissioner-blasts-offshore-wind-farm-proposal/
