A new agreement signed Tuesday will ensure offshore wind development does not hinder national security.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will make certain the two agencies collaborate so that offshore wind lease areas and project plans on the country’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) do not hinder national security and military operations. The agreement will ensure the two agencies find mutual solutions to support renewable energy in a way that is compatible to military operations and to collaborate as early as possible in the offshore wind leasing process.
“DOD is committed to working across the U.S. government to accelerate the ongoing clean energy transition, which is critical to ensuring access to reliable and resilient energy sources in order to fulfill our mission,” Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment Brendan Owens said. “We will continue to work with BOEM and our other interagency partners, to find solutions that enable offshore wind development while ensuring long-term compatibility with testing, training, and operations critical to our military readiness.”
Owens and BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein signed the agreement during a ceremony at the Offshore WINDPOWER Conference in Atlantic City, N.J.
“BOEM is dedicated to establishing a strong offshore wind industry that supports communities and co-exists with other ocean uses,” Klein said. “Our collaboration with the Department of Defense is crucial to ensure offshore wind development is carried out efficiently and sustainably, while minimizing impacts to military operations.”
The MOU requires that the two agencies share the responsibility for ensuring offshore wind project plans consider military preparedness requirements while defining and clarifying the roles and duties of both organizations during leasing and project review. The MOU will also ensure the two agencies communicate regularly, and work together to determine what areas should be deferred from leasing to enable the DoD’s performance on the OCS.