U.S. firms and giant European developers have offered more than $757 million for five ocean tract leases off central and northern California for offshore wind energy projects in deep water that will require floating wind turbines—the first use of the technology in the U.S. and the first such clean energy development plan in West Coast waters.
After 31 rounds of U.S. Interior Dept.-sponsored bidding on Dec. 6- and 7—among those participants that proceeded out of 43 eligible—five entities won the leases, the agency said.