To increase protection of marine archaeological resources, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing a requirement for oil and gas lessees and operators to submit an archaeological report with all plans for exploration or development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) that propose seabed disturbance. Currently, an archaeological report is required only if...Read More

A new report released in Dec. 2022 by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) calculates the contributions of often-overlooked portions of the ocean economy, concluding that regional marine research and education, state expenditures related to the ocean, and coastal electricity production in the mid-Atlantic area support 38,000 jobs and $25.5 billion in annual...Read More

Video Above:  The U.S. Department of Energy and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management hosted a webinar in Fall 2022 on their ambitious initiatives to position the U.S. to lead the world on floating offshore wind design, development, manufacturing, and deployment. Download the slides from this webinar.  (Credit:  U.S. Department of Energy)   On Feb....Read More

Released Mon., Jan. 23, 2023, the highly anticipated “Supply Chain Road Map for Offshore Wind Energy in the United States” identifies key actions that could help to develop a fully domestic U.S. offshore wind energy supply chain.  It also evaluates how the supply chain can evolve to support the national offshore wind target and position...Read More

Some offshore renewable energy regulations (mostly pertaining to offshore wind) dealing with workplace safety and environmental compliance will be transferred from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), the U.S. Department of Interior announced yesterday, Jan. 17, 2023. A joint notice to lessees outlines the transfer of...Read More

Get an advanced copy of the proposed new Rules HERE. It’s estimated that offshore wind developers will save approximately $1 billion over a 20-year period thanks to updated regulations for clean energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) that were proposed this week on January 12, 2023. The first Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)...Read More

The U.S. Coast Guard First District is wrapping up an extensive study on the approaches to Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts Port Access Routes, but there’s still time for the public to contribute written comments for the Coast Guard to consider before the February 2, 2023 deadline. Before establishing or adjusting traffic separation schemes (TSS)...Read More

Massachusetts offshore wind power is taking the next step toward becoming a reality as a 60-day public comment period opens this week on Dec. 23 to help the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) complete its environmental review of two pending projects by Park City Wind off the coast of Massachusetts. The proposal includes up...Read More

On Monday, Dec. 12, 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced the availability of two draft Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) for two new offshore wind projects for public review and comment, thereby advancing the regulatory process for construction to begin.  Known as the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project and the Sunrise...Read More

While most of America’s offshore wind energy development to date has involved conventional turbines that are secured directly to the sea floor in shallow waters near the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, the deep-water areas further out in the ocean are actually home to two-thirds of America’s floating offshore wind energy potential, including...Read More