US Sets October Date For Oregon Offshore Wind Auction

(Reuters) - The Biden administration on Thursday said it will auction two areas off the coast of southern Oregon to offshore wind developers on Oct. 15.

The sale would be the first in the region and is key to the administration's plan to put wind turbines along every U.S. coastline.

If developed, the areas could produce enough wind energy to power a million homes, the Interior Department said in a statement.

The Coos Bay lease area is 61,203 acres (24,768 hectares) and is about 32 miles (51.5 km) from shore. The Brookings lease area is 133,792 acres and is 18 miles from shore.

U.S. President Joe Biden has put offshore wind development at the forefront of his climate change agenda, but the industry has stumbled in the last year due to soaring costs and supply chain disruptions.

(Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Chris Reese and Marguerita Choy)