In a press release posted on its web site lately, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Power Administration (BOEM) introduced the subsequent steps within the nationwide outer continental shelf oil and fuel leasing program.
“The Bureau of Ocean Power Administration … introduced the Discover of Availability of the Space Identification (Space ID) for proposed Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Oil and Fuel Lease Gross sales 262, 263, and 264,” BOEM famous within the assertion, outlining that the Space ID revealed within the Federal Register on April 1.
The Space ID isn’t a call to lease and isn’t a prejudgment by the Division of the Inside on how or whether or not to proceed with proposed Lease Gross sales 262, 263, and 264 underneath the Nationwide OCS Program, BOEM stated within the assertion.
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“The Space ID merely determines which areas recognized within the name will obtain additional consideration and analyses,” it added.
BOEM famous within the assertion {that a} determination to lease should be preceded by a number of steps, together with completion of environmental analyses pursuant to the Nationwide Environmental Coverage Act; session underneath environmental and different statutes; alternatives for federally acknowledged Tribes, governors of affected states, native authorities leaders, and different events to offer remark; and the issuance of proposed and closing notices of sale.
The assertion highlighted that the Inside Division introduced the 2024–2029 Nationwide OCS program on December 14, 2023.
“The primary proposed sale underneath that program, Lease Sale 262, is tentatively scheduled for 2025,” BOEM stated in its assertion.
BOEM additionally highlighted in its assertion that, on October 2, 2023, it revealed a name for info and nominations on the GOM space recognized within the 2024–2029 Nationwide OCS Program.
“The decision solicited business nominations for areas of leasing curiosity and sought enter from the general public. Utilizing the enter obtained from the Name, BOEM created the Space ID,” BOEM stated within the assertion.
When requested for touch upon BOEM’s assertion, an API spokesperson stated, “whereas BOEM’s announcement is a small step ahead, the very fact stays that the administration’s strategy to federal offshore leasing fails to adequately deal with the power wants of the American folks”.
“Regardless of the rising demand for inexpensive and dependable power, this 12 months would be the first 12 months in a long time with no single offshore lease sale,” the spokesperson added.
“The administration’s determination to restrict entry and alternatives for future manufacturing in a area essential for powering our nation is a step within the flawed path for U.S. power safety and can solely make it tougher to fulfill rising power demand over the long-term,” the spokesperson continued.
When he was requested for touch upon BOEM’s assertion, Erik Milito, the President of the Nationwide Ocean Industries Affiliation (NOIA), stated, “the Division of the Inside ought to conduct lease gross sales providing the utmost quantity of acreage out there”.
“The Gulf of Mexico has lengthy served as an important financial engine and funding hub. Nevertheless, imposing additional unwarranted limits on lease gross sales or acreage availability dangers shifting investments to areas worldwide with probably decrease environmental requirements and better emissions,” he added.
“It’s easy: constant lease gross sales providing most acreage are important for sustaining a gradual circulation of power manufacturing, which is integral to our nation’s power, financial, and safety pursuits,” he continued.
Rigzone requested BOEM, the Division of the Inside (DOI), the Division of Power (DOE), and the White Home (WH) for touch upon the API and NOIA’s statements. Whereas BOEM and the DOI declined to remark, the DOE and the WH haven’t but responded to Rigzone’s request on the time of writing.
In a press release posted on its website in December, the DOI said, “in keeping with the necessities of the Inflation Discount Act regarding offshore standard and renewable power leasing, the Division of the Inside … revealed the ultimate 2024–2029 Nationwide Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Fuel Leasing Program with the fewest oil and fuel lease gross sales in historical past”.
“The IRA prohibits the Bureau of Ocean Power Administration from issuing a lease for offshore wind improvement until the company has provided at the least 60 million acres for oil and fuel leasing on the OCS within the earlier 12 months,” it added.
“This system schedules three oil and fuel lease gross sales within the Gulf of Mexico Program Space in 2025, 2027, and 2029. These three lease gross sales are the minimal quantity that can allow the Inside Division’s offshore wind power program to proceed issuing leases in a approach that can guarantee continued progress in the direction of the Administration’s aim of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030,” it continued.
To contact the writer, e-mail andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com
