Senate Bill Delivers Win for Gulf of America Energy
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
NOIA Contact: jwilliams@nullnoia.org
Senate Bill Delivers Win for Gulf of America Energy,
But Tax Changes Threaten U.S. Offshore Supply Chain
Washington, D.C. – National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) President Erik Milito issued the following statement after the Senate passed its version of the reconciliation package, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA):
“The OBBBA represents decisive, long-overdue action to restore certainty and opportunity in the Gulf of America. It delivers leasing stability, finally ending years of policy whiplash and reaffirming the Gulf’s critical role in advancing American energy dominance, economic growth, and national security.
“Mandated Gulf of America lease sales are absolutely essential. They give companies, whether family-run service shops or global manufacturers, the predictability needed to invest, hire, and build. When lease schedules vanish, so do jobs, capital, and energy security, with consequences felt far beyond the Gulf Coast.
“Energy security is national security. Producing energy at home reduces reliance on foreign adversaries and projects American strength. The Gulf of America’s vast oil and gas reserves are essential to our strategic and economic stability. Just as importantly, Gulf energy helps keep costs down for working families, making life more affordable nationwide.
"But the lessons of leasing certainty must be applied more broadly. While we appreciate the Senate’s efforts to improve the bill, particularly the refinements to key energy tax provisions, the changes still pose real challenges for continued investment in offshore wind. These provisions, though adjusted, remain material and would adversely affect long-term planning and capital deployment in offshore wind projects.
"Without broader tax stability, including for offshore wind, the very supply chains that support American shipbuilding, ports, domestic manufacturing, and industrial jobs are at risk. Energy tax credits are proven drivers of private investment, creating thousands of shovel-ready jobs. When companies can count on a predictable tax framework, they can commit capital, grow their workforce, and build out the supply chains that power our energy future.
"Across the Gulf Coast, oil and gas supply chain companies have already invested billions and made long-term strategic decisions. Offshore wind has allowed them to diversify, grow, and increase their competitiveness. They are now leading efforts to establish the U.S. as a global leader in offshore wind.
"China is far ahead in the global competition. Stability in the tax code keeps private investment flowing here in the U.S., and that’s how we maintain our competitive edge in a global, high-stakes energy market.
“Congress now has a real opportunity to prioritize deep and durable permitting reform. Reforms that last beyond a single administration are urgently needed to streamline project timelines, reduce regulatory bottlenecks, and enable responsible development across all forms of offshore energy: oil, gas, wind, and beyond. We need a system that empowers companies to innovate, respond to market needs, and lead the way in growing our energy future.”
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About NOIA
The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) represents and advances a dynamic and growing offshore energy industry, providing solutions that support communities and protect our workers, the public and our environment.
