The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is seeking nominations for potential offshore wind leasing areas off the coast of the US Pacific territory of Guam.

This call will collect public comments to inform the identification of potential leasing areas and is the result of close collaboration with the Government of Guam, which aims to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2035 and 100% by 2045.

BOEM director, Elizabeth Klein, noted that the responsible development of offshore wind energy along Guam's coastline presents a vital opportunity to expand clean energy, reduce carbon emissions, and lower energy costs for Guam residents.

The call will be published on January 6, 2025, initiating a 90-day comment period that will close on April 7, 2025. During this period, the public can submit relevant information regarding site conditions, marine resources, and ocean uses near or within the nominated area. Additionally, wind energy companies can nominate specific areas they would like to be considered for leasing.

BOEM seeks to identify areas where offshore wind development would have the least impact. During the open call period, BOEM will work with Indigenous communities, stakeholders, ocean users, federal agencies, the Government of Guam, and other parties to identify conflicts early in the process. This information will be used to significantly narrow the area considered for future offshore wind leasing.

The call seeks information about a contiguous area around the island, covering approximately 2.1 million acres. The area starts about 3 nautical miles from the coast at its closest points, in water depths ranging from approximately 350 to 2,200 meters.

For more information on the Guam Call, including a map of the area and instructions for submitting comments, visit BOEM’s webpage on Guam.

If BOEM receives commercial interest in offshore wind leasing in Guam, the next step will be to identify Wind Energy Areas (WEA) for consideration within the broader nominated area. BOEM will then conduct environmental assessments of the WEAs in consultation with the relevant federal agencies, Indigenous communities, the Government of Guam, and other key stakeholders. After completing these evaluations and environmental consultations, BOEM may propose one or more competitive leasing sales for areas within the WEAs.