Energy Programs News

When Atlantic offshore wind (OSW) projects move into high gear they will kick-start a series of impacts affecting almost the entire East Coast economy, from logistics to transportation to utility projects and, of course, just about every aspect of port and maritime activities.The related topics of workforce development and employment are among the fundamental issues being pushed and pulled by OSW. How workforce development and education and training proceed – and succeed – will be critical for the U.S.

The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) earlier this month awarded a $50 million federal grant to H2theFuture, a 25-organization partnership aiming to develop a new energy cluster in South Louisiana, spanning the clean hydrogen life cycle, from R&D at Louisiana universities, to an end-use project at the Port of South Louisiana.The award is one of 21 projects from around the country chosen from 529 applicants that were funded by a $1 billion appropriation from the American Rescue Plan Act…

With passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains US$370 billion for climate and energy programs, policy experts are forecasting a big expansion in clean electricity generation. One source that’s poised for growth is offshore wind power.Today the U.S. has just two operating offshore wind farms, off of Rhode Island and Virginia, with a combined generating capacity of 42 megawatts. For comparison, the new Traverse Wind Energy Center in Oklahoma has 356 turbines and a 998-megawatt generating capacity.

The United States' Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Tuesday announced Karen J. Baker will lead its Office of Renewable Energy Programs (OREP).BOEM, an agency within the Department of the Interior, manages U.S. offshore energy resources.As Chief of BOEM's OREP, Baker will oversee the development of renewable energy resources on the Outer Continental Shelf through planning, stakeholder engagement, environmental analysis and technical review.“We’re very excited to add Ms. Baker to our team at such a pivotal time in offshore wind development,” said BOEM Director Amanda Lefton.

A federal judge in Louisiana on Tuesday blocked the Biden administration's pause on oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters, dealing a setback to a key White House effort to address climate change.The order granted a preliminary injunction to Louisiana and 12 other states that sued Democratic President Joe Biden and the Interior Department over the freeze on new drilling auctions. Louisiana is a major hub for offshore oil and gas production.Biden paused the government's leasing auctions in January pending a review that is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration is encouraging states and port authorities to apply for $230 million in discretionary grant funding for port and intermodal infrastructure-related projects through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).“Our nation’s ports are a key part of our critical infrastructure. They create jobs and make our economy more resilient and sustainable,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “This funding…

The U.S. Interior Department announced Tuesday it will launch its review of the federal oil and gas leasing program on March 25, a key step that will determine whether the Biden administration will permanently halt new leases on federal land and water.The review will kick off with a public forum on oil and gas leasing on federal land and water, with participants representing industry, environmental conservation and justice groups, labor and others, and commence an online comment…

US-based utility Evergy has announced plans to add 660MW of wind energy to its portfolio and reduce carbon emissions by 80% below 2005 levels by 2050. The addition will bring the total amount of wind serving Evergy customers to 4,535 megawatts, making Evergy one of the top five wind energy companies in the United States.The energy from these wind farms will be used to support and expand Evergy’s Direct Renewables Program, which allows Kansas companies to access clean wind energy to become more sustainable and reduce the overall cost of energy. Evergy plans to use the additional wind energy as an economic development tool to attract manufacturers and technology companies who are seeking cost-effective…

A U.S. House committee will kick off debate next week on three new bills aimed at boosting offshore wind energy leases in federal waters.The House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a hearing on Tuesday on three bipartisan offshore wind proposals.One proposal would require the Interior Department to develop a leasing plan or schedule for federal offshore leases, a second would create a federal grant for educational or career programs for the offshore industry…

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced that its Newport News Industrial subsidiary will undergo a 52,000-square-foot expansion at its headquarters facility in Newport News. The facility, located at 182 Enterprise Drive, will be expanded to house production areas, heavy cranes and plate-forming equipment. The expansion will support the company’s heavy steel fabrication in the commercial nuclear power industry and will create at least 120 new skilled trades jobs. Additional parking will also be added to support the larger workforce. “We at Newport News Industrial are excited to see this expansion come to life because it will support our work in the nuclear power industry and support our community through job creation…

Michael Lempke has been appointed vice president of energy programs for Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division, succeeding Pete Diakun, who will retire at the end of the year after 31 years of service. Lempke, who will lead the shipyard’s energy programs strategy once he transitions into the new role, has more than two decades of experience in executive acquisition and operations for both government and industry. Most recently, he served as vice president of integrated strategic decision support for Systems, Planning and Analysis, Inc., in Alexandria.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper announced James (Jim) F. Bennett as BOEM’s new Chief for the Office of Renewable Energy Programs (OREP), the program responsible for overseeing offshore renewable energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf. Bennett has 35 years of Federal service and has served in a variety of capacities around the Department of the Interior and the Bureau. Most recently, he served as the Chief of the Division of…

Combining Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) S.M. Stoller Corp. and Newport News Nuclear subsidiaries, the company has created Stoller Newport News Nuclear (SN3), a full-service nuclear operations and environmental services company. "Formation of SN3 is a logical next step in the post-acquisition process of fully integrating our people and capabilities to achieve our business goals," said Pete Diakun, vice president, energy programs at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division.

As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to create American jobs, cut carbon pollution and develop domestic energy sources, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is assessing whether there is competitive interest in wave energy research or development in an area of federal waters offshore Oregon where the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center at Oregon State University (NNMREC-OSU) proposes to site a hydrokinetic energy facility to test utility-scale wave energy devices. BOEM will publish the "Notice of Potential Research Lease on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Oregon, Request for Competitive Interest” in the Federal Register on March 24…

As part of the Obama Administration's Climate Action Plan to create American jobs, develop domestic clean energy sources and cut carbon pollution, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced today that it is seeking public comment as it prepares an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze potential impacts from proposed wind energy research activities offshore Virginia. The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) has requested a research lease and proposes to design…

As part of the Obama Administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy to continue to expand safe and responsible domestic energy development, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced today it has received a second unsolicited request from Virginia's Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) for a research lease offshore Virginia. DMME proposes to design, develop, and demonstrate a grid-connected, 12-megawatt (MW) offshore wind test facility on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off the coast of Virginia. BOEM will publish a "Public Notice of an Unsolicited Request for an OCS Research Lease, Request for Competitive Interest…

You are not alone if you are bewildered by the talk in Washington about “sequester,” “continuing resolution”, “fiscal cliff,” “budget resolutions,” and “debt ceilings.”  Even those of us who think we understand what’s going on have trouble keeping up. This article will break down the talk into segments on the continuing resolution that funds the government for the rest of this fiscal year: the House and Senate budget resolutions, the upcoming debt ceiling fight; and, finally, the President’s budget request for FY2014. The focus is on maritime, transportation and energy programs.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) received an unsolicited request for a research lease in the Wind Energy Area (WEA) off Virginia identified for commercial wind leasing. The research would inform future renewable energy production within and around the WEA off Virginia. BOEM seeks public input on the research proposal. Virginia’s Department of Mines Minerals and Energy submitted the request to conduct wind energy-related research activities, including installation of two meteorological and ocean monitoring platforms to collect data on wind velocities, water levels, waves, and bird and bat activities. BOEM will publish a “Public Notice of an Unsolicited Request for an OCS Research Lease…

Huntington Ingalls Industries said that Peter Diakun, vice president and chief technology officer of its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division, has been appointed to vice president of energy programs. Diakun, a 26-year veteran of the shipyard, will assume responsibility for energy programs while maintaining certain aspects of his current position. Integration Center (VASCIC) operations, including operational concepts and modeling and simulation work. In this new role, Diakun will also become the general manager of Newport News Nuclear, Inc.

Huntington Ingalls Industries announce that Peter Diakun, vice president and chief technology officer of its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division, has been appointed to vice president of energy programs. Diakun, a 26-year veteran of the shipyard, will assume responsibility for energy programs while maintaining certain aspects of his current position. In addition to leading NNS' Department of Energy programs, he will continue to oversee Virginia Advanced Shipbuilding and Carrier Integration Center (VASCIC) operations, including operational concepts and modeling and simulation work.

Speaking at awards ceremonies recently at the United States Naval Memorial in Washington, D.C., senior officers and civilian officials said new energy initiatives will reduce defense spending without sacrificing capabilities. “Taking the long view is really important,” said Monica Medina, a special assistant to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta responsible for energy and environmental matters. Cutting costs and increasing efficiencies through environmental and energy programs is a priority in the secretary’s office and for the Navy, she said. Her comments came after Senate and House committees voted in May against the Navy’s biofuel plans.

Stressing the importance of scientific integrity in decision-making regarding offshore energy development, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Director Michael R. Bromwich today highlighted the role of the bureau’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Scientific Committee in evaluating the bureau’s research and scientific agenda. “The Scientific Committee is a vital part of our ongoing efforts to ensure we have the appropriate scientific information available on which to base decisions affecting offshore energy production on the U.S.

Washington — The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) announced that its Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Scientific Committee will hold a public meeting on May 17-19, 2011, in Hyannis, Mass. The OCS Scientific Committee is a public federal advisory committee of distinguished scientists. Chaired by Dr. Michael D. Fry, the Director of Conservation Advocacy for the American Bird Conservancy, the Committee consists of 15 members with expertise in biological oceanography, marine biology, social science, marine archeology and physical oceanography.