Windfloat Offshore Wind Power Permitting

Principle Power, Inc., installed a 30-megawatt wind energy facility approximately 18 nautical miles off the Pacific Coast near Coos Bay, Oregon. The offshore wind turbines were placed on patented, floating foundations (WindFloat), which eliminate the need for seabed-disturbing foundation structures and can be sited to avoid conflicts with other marine uses. It is the first offshore wind energy project constructed along the West Coast of North America. Herrera led the environmental permitting effort and worked closely with project partners to obtain the necessary permits to allow construction and installation of the project. During phase one of the project, we prepared the Outer Continental Shelf lease application to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. During phase two, we led preparation of an environmental report that documents environmental resources in the project area (including offshore, nearshore, and terrestrial) and potential effects of the WindFloat Pacific project on those resources. Throughout the project, Herrera participated in public meetings to inform the community of ongoing project activities and acted as communication liaison with numerous local, state, and federal agencies to facilitate formal consultation and permitting processes.