Finally, good news about prevailing winds in the Gulf. The first U.S. auction of Gulf of Mexico tracts for wind power is set for Aug. 29.

The auction will include about 200,000 acres in two locations.

“The largest of those two sites will be located 23 nautical miles south of the mouth of the Calcasieu Ship Channel,” Port of Lake Charles Executive Director Richert Self told gubernatorial candidate Stephen Waguespack in an economic development roundtable discussion on Thursday.

Waguespack has been campaigning at points across the state. Earlier that day, he met with the Republican Women of SWLA.

“The port checks all the boxes to attract the wind energy industry,” Self said.

It is within close proximity, the deep draft Calcasieu Ship Channel, no air draft restrictions, which are height restrictions caused by bridges or power lines and available acreage is centrally located in the Gulf of Mexico.

“We want to be the marshaling port,” Self said. “Marshaling Ports are marine terminals where the blades, towers and nacelles are delivered, staged, preassembled and loaded onto an installation vessel.”

The Port is always interested in additional property within the district, according to Self. Record revenues were posted in 2022, despite hurricane damage and loss.

Rebuilding continues and essential loading equipment is slated for delivery much later than expected.

“We’re working on a very ambitious and comprehensive modernization of Port infrastructure to meet the demands of global shipping,” Self said. “This includes the single largest construction project in the Port’s history, the $135 million Berth and Transit Shed 4, 5 & 6 project.”

The underlying dock structure was constructed in the 1920s when the Port was originally built. The project represents nearly one-third of the waterfront covered storage area and one-third of the linear dock feet of the berthing area.

Despite such challenges, revenue for 2023 looks to be another record setter and some tonnage is already at 2022 levels only six months into 2023.

“For example, we’ve had a significant increase in dimensional lumber imports from 12,000 cubic meters in 2019 to over 550,000 cubic meters in 2023, “ Self noted.

Port General Counsel Jon Ringo made sure to mention that Lake Charles has an ideal location for a distribution center. Industrial Park East offers 360 acres within one mile of Interstate 10 and within one mile of the Union Pacific main line. It has rail access on the site and is right next door to Chennault International Airport.