Norwegian company drops plan for wind farm off Louisiana coast
In Louisiana, Nola reported that a Norwegian company that hoped to build the first wind farm in the Gulf of Mexico has ceased operations and canceled plans to bid for a wind lease area off the coast of southwest Louisiana. Havfram, an Oslo-based energy company, recently confirmed that its efforts to build a commercial-scale wind project in the Gulf evaporated when it shut down Kontiki Wind, a subsidiary focused on wind farm development. In a statement, Havfram said the company will now focus on offering transportation and installation services to the offshore wind industry. Two other companies are moving forward with plans to build wind farms in Louisiana waters, the report added. The State Department of Natural Resources granted a 60,000 acre lease to Danish firm Vestas, and a 6,100-acre lease to Diamond Offshore Wind, a company owned by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi.
