Abstract
This report provides background, methods, and results for the ecosystem-wide spatial suitability model developed to inform selection of Wind Energy Areas in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Oregon. Spatial suitability models have long been applied to terrestrial and marine environments for the purpose of assessing the relative potential for development or conservation. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) used similar methods to complete suitability models for siting wind energy in the Gulf of Mexico and Wind Energy Areas in the Central Atlantic.
To develop the Oregon suitability model, 30 geospatial data layers, developed by various government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and academic institutions, were selected that represent major ocean characteristics for the Oregon Call Areas. Through an extensive one-year stakeholder outreach process that included data gathering, BOEM identified two Call Areas offshore the State of Oregon. These two areas are known as the Coos Bay Call Area (872,854 acres) and the Brookings Call Area (286,444 acres). Call Areas are areas identified by BOEM that appear to be suitable for offshore wind development. These two areas 2 include 167 whole OCS blocks1 and 81 partial OCS blocks, and total approximately 1,159,298 acres (1,811 square miles) (Figure 1.2). Data were organized into categories (submodels) representing the major ocean sectors including national security, natural resources, wind, fishing, and industry and operations. All data layers were assigned scores of relative compatibility, allowing the calculation of an overall suitability score for each 10 acre grid cell of the study area. Using a cluster analysis, two Wind Energy Areas (WEA) were identified representing the most suitable areas within the Call Areas.
The work presented here is the result of a Wind Energy Area Siting Suitability model (Model) developed by expert marine spatial scientists, marine ecologists, project coordinators, policy analysts, and subject matter experts (SMEs) at both BOEM and NCCOS, and informed by extensive outreach efforts. Collectively, this team provided input during the model construction process, reviewed data layers, assigned weights, and informed the Model development and interpretation of results. These parties are referred to herein as the Oregon WEA Siting Team (Team).
BOEM selected two WEAs as a result of the Modeling process. These two WEAs encompass a total of 219,568 acres, an 81.06% reduction in size from the Call Areas.