Marine Hydrokinetic Energy Leases and Planning Areas

Marine Hydrokinetic Leases and Planning Areas are managed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for potential or active energy projects on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. The dataset includes the PacWave research lease in Oregon. It was last updated by the Department of the Interior in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyze lease boundaries and planning area polygons for spatial suitability assessments of wave or tidal energy projects.
• Identify active research leases, such as the PacWave site, for studying technology deployment and environmental impacts.
• Map jurisdictional areas managed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for regulatory compliance and stakeholder engagement.

Strengths

• Managed by the authoritative Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
• Data includes both active and potential lease areas for comprehensive planning.
• Offered in multiple geospatial formats including GeoJSON, KML, and GPKG for tool flexibility.

Limitations

• Limited to a single confirmed active research lease (PacWave) as of the description.
• Spatial coverage is restricted to the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, excluding international waters.

Provenance

Source

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Collection Method

Administrative and regulatory data collection for ocean energy management.

Time Range

Current as of April 2026; includes active and potential future areas.

Freshness

Last updated in April 2026.

Geography

U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.