The Department of Interior announced last week the winning companies of the New York Bight offshore wind lease sale, with Bight Wind Holdings LLC, a joint venture (JV) between RWE Renewables and National Grid, securing the largest lease with a $1.1 billion bid. 

The Bight, sandwiched between the coast of Long Island and New Jersey, drew winning bids from six companies totaling $4.37 billion, making it the highest grossing competitive offshore energy lease sale in history. 

The largest lease, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)-A 0539, could hold an estimated capacity of 3 GW, according to RWE, and is expected to be in operation by 2030. The German energy company noted this is its first entry into the U.S. offshore wind market. 

“Winning a lease in the New York auction is a...