The U.S. Department of the Interior held its first-ever offshore wind energy auction for the Gulf of Mexico. The practice has long been a standard in the oil and gas industry for businesses to get permits to drill.
According to a press release, the first wind power lease in the Gulf went for $5.6 million. The area will generate 1.24 gigawatts of offshore energy, enough to power around 434,400 homes with clean energy.
The push for cleaner energy is part of the White House’s Investing in America agenda.
The area leased in the Gulf is one of four locations the government has auctioned for commercial use of wind energy. Other sites include spots in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, including one off the coast of New York.
Some oppose the wind farms, stating concerns for the environment. However, researchers suggest that there shouldn’t be any negative impacts on marine life.
