House Set to Debate Offshore Wind Energy Bills in US Waters

A U.S. House committee will kick off debate next week on three new bills aimed at boosting offshore wind energy leases in federal waters.

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 and Nichola Groom; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)