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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, and a third would give Interior the
authority to manage the federal submerged lands off of
territories such as Guam for offshore energy. Turbines can be
built on land beneath navigable waters.
The Trump administration has thrown its weight behind the
nascent offshore wind industry by streamlining permitting
processes and working to open up more areas for lease. The
administration views offshore wind as an element in its goal for
U.S. energy dominance.
"We are committed to working with the Trump administration in
pursuing an 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy, which includes a
robust offshore renewable component," according to a committee
statement.
The U.S. market for offshore wind has been enjoying fresh
momentum due to a sharp drop in costs, and policies in several
northeastern states that require utilities to enter into
contracts for wind energy generated off their coastlines.
Last month, three Massachusetts utilities were awarded the
largest ever U.S. contract for offshore wind, and New Jersey’s
governor signed a law that commits his state to procuring 3.5
gigawatts of offshore wind.
A wind farm that generates up to 1.5 gigawatts of electricity
can power roughly 1 million homes.
European companies have been especially interested in U.S.
offshore acreage up for lease.
Mike Olsen, senior director of government affairs at Norway's
Equinor, formerly Statoil, is expected to testify at Tuesday's
hearing.
Statoil Wind has already won a bid for 80,000 acres of offshore
leasing rights off of New York's coast.
James Bennett, chief of the Office of Renewable Energy Programs
Department at the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Management and
Randall Luthi, president of the National Oceans Industries
Association are confirmed to testify.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington and Nichola Groom
in Los Angeles; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
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