CDP: Oceans Clips: July 6, 2022
Intelatus Provides Snapshot of U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Progress. According to Offshore Engineer, “The U.S. offshore wind sector continues its journey to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 110 GW by 2050, Intelatus Global Partners said in its July U.S. offshore wind report. Two major OCS projects with around 940 MW of capacity have reached FID and have started onshore construction, and seven projects are expected to make a final investment decision within the next 18 months. According to Intelatus, 11 OCS developments with a potential for more than 17 GW are undergoing federal permitting review, and 17.5 GW of project capacity has secured offtake commitments from states. Also, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has launched the leasing process for over 4.5 GW of floating wind capacity offshore California, further auctions are planned for the South Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, the Central Atlantic, Oregon, and the Gulf of Maine before the end of 2024.” [Offshore Engineer, 7/6/22 (=)
AP| Government Protects Rare Mussel After Decadelong Campaign. According to the AP, “The government said it will protect a rare freshwater mussel and the 36 miles (58 kilometers) of streams where it lives in eastern Alabama after a more than decadelong campaign by environmentalists to protect the animal from the threat of extinction. A notice from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the Canoe Creek clubshell, which lives in only two tributaries of the Coosa River in northeast Alabama, is now considered an endangered species. The decision means stricter oversight of Big Canoe Creek and Little Canoe Creek West, where the mussel lives. Nearly three dozen species of freshwater mussels already have become extinct in North America, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, which said it joined with other groups in first asking for federal protection 12 years ago for the Canoe Creek clubshell.” [AP, 7/5/22 (=)]
Years Later, FWS Denies Protections For 3 Species. According to Politico, “The Fish and Wildlife Service’s often sluggish Endangered Species Act work crawled to a few conclusions today, with decisions that have been more than a decade in the making. After reviewing petitions first filed by environmental groups in 2007, 2008 and 2010, the federal agency determined that ESA protections are “not warranted at this time” for the evening fieldslug, the Mammoth Spring crayfish and the Weber’s Whitlow grass. The long lag time on decisions for the three obscure species speaks to the persistent ESA delays that the Fish and Wildlife Service attributes to chronic underfunding and short staffing (Greenwire, April 7).” [Politico, 7/5/22 (=)]
Casino Boat Sunk, Adding To Del.'S Artificial Reef System. According to Politico, “A boat formerly used as a floating casino was recently sunk to the ocean floor off the coast of Delaware to become part of the state's artificial reef program. A Norfolk, Va.-based marine contractor handled the sinking of the 180-foot-long Texas Star, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control said in a news release last week. ‘With today's sinking of the Texas Star on Redbird Reef, one of 14 separate reef sites in the Delaware Bay and along the Atlantic Coast, we continue to enhance and expand the recreational fishing and diving experience in Delaware,’ Shawn Garvin, the department's secretary, said in a statement. The ship built in 1977 was converted from a casino to a commercial scallop catcher and processor and now has found its "third life" as part of the artificial reef, the department said.” [Politico, 7/5/22 (=)]
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