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Oregon Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap Published and Submitted to Legislature
SALEM – A comprehensive guide for evaluating, planning, and managing the development of Offshore Wind Energy in the state of Oregon was submitted to the legislature on July 24, 2026.
House Bill 4080 (2024) directed the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to develop an Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap (Roadmap) that defines standards to be considered in the process related to developing and approving offshore wind energy in Oregon. DLCD published the completed Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap and submitted it to the Legislature last week. The full Roadmap, including appendices and responses to public comments, may be found on the DLCD website.
The Roadmap was developed over a 15-month process with opportunities for community engagement throughout. DLCD consulted a Roundtable advisory group representing a broad array of interests, in addition to holding multiple community meetings, focus group conversations with community organizations and ocean users, and a 69-day public comment period. DLCD also engaged in consultation with federally recognized tribes in Oregon throughout the process.
The Roadmap will help Oregon responsibly consider potential offshore wind energy development while addressing the needs, concerns, and interests of the many people and communities who could be affected. It outlines the opportunities, challenges, and alternatives to offshore wind energy with an inclusive and adaptable approach to evolving industry and policy conditions.
The Roadmap does not recommend whether offshore wind energy should be built off Oregon’s coast. However, rather than focusing solely on developing offshore wind energy, this Roadmap identifies five future scenarios: 1) large-scale development including major port development; 2) large-scale development without major port development, 3) pilot projects, 4) economic participation without wind turbines, or 5) opting out entirely. Considering these alternative pathways was important to Oregonians who participated in the Roadmap process, given important community, cultural, and environmental values and uses of the coast.
If Oregon chooses to pursue or allow offshore wind development, the Roadmap outlines the conditions, processes, and standards from which it could proceed responsibly while protecting the interests of coastal communities, federally recognized Tribes in Oregon (Tribes), fisheries, and ecosystems while advancing Oregon’s clean energy and climate goals.
The Roadmap offers policy recommendations, investment ideas, and actions the state can take now to prepare. It provides clear expectations on the decision points and process steps for each phase of potential development — from leasing and permitting, through construction and operation, to eventual decommissioning.
There are recent uncertainties about federal policy and the future of the offshore wind energy industry. However, the need remains to advance state clean energy and climate goals, to strengthen state policies, and to build capacity and knowledge should the federal interest in offshore wind energy development off Oregon’s coast return.
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