Offshore Energy Strategy News

The Trump Administration has proposed a $189m fiscal year 2021 budget for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), designating just under $27m for offshore wind.The FY 2021 budget includes approximately $26.5 million to advance offshore renewable energy development.In recognition of the role renewable energy can play in securing the Nation’s energy independence and supporting economic growth, BOEM continues to advance renewable energy through its leasing program and streamlining its permitting and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes.In addition, the proposed budget increases BOEM’s capacity to undertake research activities and foster stakeholder engagement.According to a press note from BOEM…

In support of the President's America-First Offshore Energy Strategy, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today announced a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted by Vineyard Wind LLC that would allow it to construct and operate an 800-megawatt (MW) wind energy facility offshore Massachusetts. The publication of the NOI opens a 30-day public comment period. During this time, BOEM will conduct five public scoping meetings and accept comments. The input received via this process will be used to inform preparation of the EIS. "The offshore wind industry continues to advance at a rapid rate…

The Trump administration is preparing a plan that would open up oil drilling off the U.S. East Coast, Bloomberg reported. President Trump ordered the Interior Department to create the draft proposal as part of his “America-First Offshore Energy Strategy” executive order in April.  The new plan, which could be unveiled as soon as this week, would allow the U.S. to auction oil and gas drilling rights in Atlantic waters previously blocked under the Obama administration. The new proposal would span the years 2019 to 2024, replacing the Obama plan, which runs through 2022.

Eni US will become the first energy company allowed to explore for oil in federal waters off Alaska since 2015 after the Trump administration this week approved a drilling plan on leases the company has been sitting on for 10 years. The approval is conditional on Eni getting other state and federal permits, which in past cases are generally granted once BOEM gives the green light. "We know there are vast oil and gas resources under the Beaufort Sea, and we look forward to working with Eni in their efforts to tap into this energy potential," said BOEM's acting Director Walter Cruickshank.

National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) president Randall Luthi issued a statement congratulating “steel in the water” for Deep Water Wind’s Block Island Wind Farm, stating an all-of-the-above strategy combining offshore wind with offshore oil and gas off the U.S. Atlantic Coast benefits the U.S. on multiple levels. “NOIA congratulates Deepwater Wind as on-site construction begins on its Block Island Wind Farm offshore Rhode Island. It is gratifying that Deepwater Wind chose NOIA member company Gulf Island Fabrication for the off-site construction of the foundations for this project…

GL Garrad Hassan signs MOU with Taiwanese Industrial Technology Research Institute to develop Taiwan's offshore energy strategy. The offshore wind resource around the Taiwanese coast is considered excellent, with more than 6,000MW potential capacity at water depths of less than 50m. Earlier this year the Taiwanese government announced an extensive plan to speed up the deployment of offshore wind farm and promote green energy economics. Beginning with a demonstration project in 2015, offshore installation is planned to ramp up over the coming years and reach 1000 turbines and 3000MW by 2030.