The U.S. government has issued five exploratory leases for renewable wind energy production on the Outer Continental Shelf.

This is the first time the federal government has issued offshore wind leases. The leases cover areas 6-18 miles off New Jersey and Delaware.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar issued the exploratory leases to Bluewater Wind New Jersey Energy, LLC; Fishermen’s Energy of New Jersey, LLC; Deepwater Wind, LLC; and Bluewater Wind Delaware, LLC.

The wind farms, which would be built between 16 and 20 miles offshore comprising up to 100 turbines each, may become the first operating U.S. offshore wind installations, officials said.

The leases were developed under an Interim Policy and authorise data gathering activities, allowing for the construction of meteorological towers on the Outer Continental Shelf from six to 18 miles offshore to collect site-specific data on wind speed, intensity, and direction.

The data collected under these leases will be shared with Interior’s Minerals Management Service and used to inform and support future commercial renewable energy projects, such as wind turbine farms, to help coastal States meet mandated renewable energy portfolio standards.

New Jersey is actively pursing the development of offshore wind energy through various state initiatives. In October last year, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities established a meteorological tower reimbursement programme, which provides $4 million per company to help expedite the development of offshore wind.

In Delaware, Delmarva Power signed a power purchase agreement with Bluewater Wind for up to 200MW in June last year.