U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Needs a Federal Commitment to Offshore Wind Development

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 12, 2019
Contact: Justin Williams, (202) 465-8464, jwilliams@nullnoia.org

U.S. Offshore Wind Industry Needs a Federal Commitment to Offshore Wind Development

Washington, D.C.NOIA Vice President for Government and Political Affairs Tim Charters issued the following statement in response to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) new regional offshore wind leasing strategy

“For nearly a decade, BOEM has operated with a regional approach, giving states and BOEM the flexibility to develop offshore wind projects in a manner  that balances state policies and federal leasing.  This amazing effort has put the United States on the verge of an offshore energy boom, which will bring billions of dollars of investment along with thousands of jobs and tens of gigawatts of electricity.

“However, the ascendant U.S. offshore wind industry and its supporting supply chain need a steady supply of planning, leasing and construction opportunities to build a competitive and robust domestic industry.  While the historic users of the ocean search out agreeable paths to accommodate this growing industry, the resources in federal waters ultimately belong to the American people, thus there must be a strong federal commitment to developing our offshore wind resources.  More leasing means more competition for opportunities and more players in the offshore space, which means more competition for prices and more opportunities for supply chain companies.

“NOIA is encouraged by BOEM’s path forward in both the interest in offshore wind and the geographic diversity of potential projects. However, NOIA hopes that BOEM will further develop this strategy to give industry a clearer idea of when and where to expect lease sales.  As an example, one option would be to commit in advance to a multi-sale schedule for the Gulf of Maine and begin the planning process with a potential commitment to three to five sales over the next seven to 10 years, providing states and industry with the federal commitment necessary to continue the robust growth of offshore wind.”  

ABOUT NOIA
NOIA is the only national trade association representing all segments of the offshore industry with an interest in the exploration and production of both traditional and renewable energy resources on the nation’s outer continental shelf.  NOIA’s mission is to secure reliable access and a fair regulatory and economic environment for the companies that develop the nation’s valuable offshore energy resources in an environmentally responsible manner. The NOIA membership comprises about 250 companies engaged in business activities ranging from producing to drilling, engineering to marine and air transport, offshore construction to equipment manufacture and supply, telecommunications to finance and insurance, and renewable energy.

National Ocean Industries Association
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Washington, DC 20005

Phone: 202.347.6900 | Email: media@nullnoia.org