Rahul Somvanshi
New regulations for wind energy facilities on the outer continental shelf have been announced by the U S Department in order to achieve climate goals. The developers will save $1 billion over 20 years due to these changes as they will simplify processes, providing clarity, & reducing compliance costs, the statement says.
U S Interior Secretary Deb Halland said, ”The safe & efficient development of offshore energy resources will be facilitated by updating these regulations ,to provide certainty to developers & help ensure a fair return to the U S taxpayers.
Revision of regulations for wind energy facilities on the continental shelf were announced by the U S Department of the Interior. The country’s climate goals are supported by these changes to save developer’s $ 1 billion over 20 years as they simplify processes, clarify ambiguities, & reduce compliance costs. The new head of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Elizabeth Klein a former layer in the Obama & Clinton administration, has welcomed the changes, as she will oversee offshore oil, gas & wind development.
The first two commercial wind projects in the U S have been approved by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) which oversees offshore energy development. The BOEM has held three lease auctions, including the first one off the coast of California, as part of its efforts to promote clean energy. The possibility of expanding offshore wind energy to other regions is also being investigated. This includes the Gulf of Mexico.
Several more auctions for offshore wind energy development are planned to evaluate the construction of at least 16 new facilities by 2025 are planned by the Department of Interior to generate a total of 22 GW of clean energy.
Major components of the proposed changes in rule include the following:
- Eliminating redundant regulations for the deployment of weather monitoring buoys
- Allowing for greater flexibility in surveys
- Enhancing the process for designing and verifying wind energy projects
- Establishing a transparent schedule for leasing of renewable energy
- Revising the regulations for auctioning renewable energy
- Tailoring financial assurance requirements
- Clarifying safety management system regulations
- Making technical corrections and revising other provisions.
