Historic Agreement between BOEM and DoD for Offshore Wind Development in the United States

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Department of Defense (DoD) unite to support offshore wind development, ensuring compatibility with essential military operations.

Share:

Federal collaboration for offshore wind development has reached a critical milestone with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Department of Defense (DoD). This partnership aims to harmonize efforts to deploy offshore wind energy while ensuring the United States’ energy security and preserving military capacity on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

The MOU was signed during the Offshore WINDPOWER conference in Atlantic City, as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to renewable energy. BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment Brendan Owens emphasized their commitment to establishing a robust offshore wind industry that coexists with oceanic uses, including military operations.

The DoD, which views the energy transition as critical for resource resilience and reliability, explained that this collaboration would align the country’s energy goals with national security requirements. Mr. Owens highlighted the importance of preserving essential training and testing capabilities for military readiness while accelerating the development of renewable energy infrastructure.

Defining Roles and Responsibilities

The MOU clarifies the roles of BOEM and DoD, particularly in offshore lease project review and coordination. The goal is to ensure early-stage planning to minimize potential impacts on military operations. This protocol includes participation in intergovernmental task forces specializing in renewable energy, allowing both organizations to collaborate from the initial stages of the offshore leasing process.

The DoD and BOEM also commit to regular information exchange and consultation with public and private sector stakeholders to define zones compatible with military activities. The protocol allows the DoD to identify areas that should be exempt from leasing to ensure that essential military activities on the OCS remain uninterrupted.

Biden-Harris Administration’s Renewable Energy Goals

This partnership directly supports the Biden-Harris administration’s ambitions to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 15 gigawatts of floating wind capacity by 2035. These objectives aim to create well-paying jobs and contribute to the fight against climate change by increasing the share of renewable energy in the U.S. energy mix.

The current MOU complements an initial agreement signed in July 1983 between the DoD and the Department of the Interior, which provided a cooperative framework for energy resources on the OCS. The recently signed protocol goes beyond this historical agreement, enhancing coordination to meet the modern challenges of the energy transition.

Towards Sustainable Energy Compatible with National Defense

This strengthened interagency cooperation marks a significant step toward ensuring that renewable energy infrastructure development aligns with national defense needs. Through enhanced communication and integrated planning, BOEM and DoD aim to maximize OCS resource utilization while safeguarding military security essential for national protection.

Ecopetrol S.A. finalises the acquisition of Wind Autogeneración from Enel S.A.S., thereby taking over the Windpeshi wind project in Colombia, with a planned capacity of 205 MW, aimed at the Colombian oil group's energy self-consumption.
Oceanic Wind Energy Inc. and Coast Tsimshian Enterprises Ltd. secured an exclusive investigative use permit in the Hecate Strait, paving the way for Canada's first major offshore wind project, targeting capacity of up to 700 MW.
German manufacturer Nordex will supply 13 N163/6.X wind turbines to developer SAB WindTeam for a 91 MW wind farm in Brandenburg, with commissioning scheduled for early 2027 and an extended 20-year service agreement.
EDF is delaying the start-up of the Calvados offshore wind farm by more than two years, citing extended adjustments to a drilling tool vital for installing the sixty-four monopile foundations off Courseulles-sur-Mer.
German company NeXtWind signs historic €1.4 billion debt financing to accelerate expansion and modernisation of its onshore wind farms and reach a total capacity of 3 GW by 2028.
Energy company TGS has won a major high-resolution geophysical imaging contract for offshore wind site characterization in Norway, strengthening its position in this rapidly growing market.
Iberdrola Australia secures crucial approval from Australian authorities to begin metocean studies for its 3GW Aurora Green offshore project off the coast of Victoria, marking a decisive stage in its development.
ENGIE begins full operation of the Red Sea Wind Energy wind farm in Egypt, increasing its capacity to 650 MW, four months ahead of schedule, now powering over one million homes in the region.
Tokyo Gas, through TOWII Renewables, a joint venture with EWII, purchases two onshore wind projects developed by Finnish company Puhuri, totalling 74.4 MW, marking its expansion beyond the Danish market.
The European Investment Bank grants EWE AG historic €450mn financing for the installation of 2,600 km of underground power lines and the upgrade of over 1,100 substations in Lower Saxony.
Japan’s Ministry of Industry and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy launch a strategic partnership to develop local offshore wind supply chains and strengthen the country's industrial competitiveness in this energy sector.
Energiekontor AG confirms financial close for the Nartum wind farm, adding 23 megawatts to its owned portfolio and starting the construction phase in the Rotenburg district, Lower Saxony.
Airloom Energy begins construction of a pilot site in Wyoming to test an innovative turbine aimed at enhancing American energy security in the face of anticipated growth in electricity demand.
ACCIONA Energía transfers the San Juan de Marcona wind farm to Luz del Sur S.A.A., a major player in Peru's energy sector, for up to USD 253 million, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
German operator Encavis AG strengthens its portfolio by acquiring two wind farms in Lower Saxony and Saxony, totalling 59 MW, in a transaction with Energiequelle GmbH, thereby expanding its renewable energy assets.
Ocergy officially launches an industrial project aiming to install by 2028 a new-generation floating wind turbine of over 15 MW, in partnership with EnBW, Kyuden Mirai, and TEPCO Renewable Power.
France officially commissions its first floating wind farm, consisting of three turbines with a combined capacity of 25 megawatts, introducing strategic technology in the Mediterranean, vital for national energy goals.
Inaugurated on 20 June, the five-turbine plant of wpd onshore France feeds 18 MW into the grid and unlocks new tax revenue for four Côtes-d’Armor municipalities.
Statkraft refocuses investments on flexible Nordic hydropower and reduces commitments in offshore wind and hydrogen to lower operating costs, amid an uncertain economic environment and pressured profitability.
Suzlon Group receives third consecutive order from AMPIN Energy Transition to supply 170.1 MW of wind turbines for a project in India's Andhra Pradesh state, strengthening their strategic industrial partnership.