Project

The WindFloat Pacific Offshore Wind Demonstration Project is a proposed wind energy facility 18 nautical miles off the Pacific Coast near Coos Bay, Oregon. The US Department of Energy (DOE) selected the project, led by Principle Power, Inc., to receive a grant of up to $47 million as part of DOE’s program to encourage Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects, which use innovative methods of developing renewable energy sources. The offshore wind turbines would be placed on patented floating foundations (WindFloat), a technology that eliminates the need for seabed-disturbing foundation structures and that can be sited to avoid conflicts with other marine uses. It is the first offshore wind energy project proposed along the West Coast of North America and the second proposed offshore wind project in the US to use floating foundations. The Principle Power team is conducting numerous studies of the offshore environment to inform project design, permitting, and implementation. Herrera is leading the environmental permitting effort and is working closely with project partners to complete environmental documentation and to obtain necessary permits to allow construction and installation of the project by mid-2017. (Note: WindFloat Photos from Portugal Demonstration Project)