Amid mounting opposition to offshore wind development off the coast of Oregon, the federal government announced Friday it is delaying a planned auction for the development of two wind energy sites as Gov. Tina Kotek urged the federal agency to halt all leasing plans and stop the auction.
The developments call into question the potential for future development of offshore wind energy off the Oregon coast. The state’s coastal communities, seafood industry and tribes fiercely opposed the federal agency’s plans, which concerned the governor.
In a letter on Friday to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Kotek said Oregon had “no choice” but to withdraw from the intergovernmental task force that’s working on offshore energy to protect Oregon’s interests and engage more with the public. Her letter comes amid concerns from coastal communities and tribes about environmental impacts and threats to culturally and economically significant sites that are home to fish and other marine species…