NOIA Commends Maryland Offshore Wind Auction

National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) President Randall Luthi has issued the following statement on the US Department of the Interior's announcement of a proposed wind auction offshore Maryland:

"NOIA supports an all-of-the-above approach to meeting our nation’s growing energy needs and we welcome the news of a proposed wind auction offshore Maryland.  We applaud Secretary Jewell on her department’s continued forward movement toward offshore wind development in the Atlantic OCS, which has the potential to add needed jobs, economic activity, and energy security to our nation.

At the same time, we encourage the Secretary to push forward the completion of the environmental work necessary to permit seismic surveys off the Atlantic coast. Doing so will enable policy makers to make informed decisions based on where we know oil and natural gas reserves are. This information, in addition to the siting of offshore wind, is a step toward a truly data-driven decision-making process.

After all, it is amazing what offshore energy can do for America. More is possible if we also develop the oil and natural gas resources in the Atlantic OCS, including an estimated 1.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in production, $51 billion in government revenue, $24 billion per year to the economy, and 280,000 new jobs by 2035.”

About NOIA
NOIA says it is the only national trade association representing all segments of the offshore industry with an interest in the exploration and production of both traditional and renewable energy resources on the nation’s outer continental shelf.

The NOIA membership comprises about 300 companies engaged in business activities ranging from producing to drilling, engineering to marine and air transport, offshore construction to equipment manufacture and supply, telecommunications to finance and insurance, and renewable energy.