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Renewable Energy

Facilitating the Responsible Development of Renewable Energy Resources on the OCS

The Office of Renewable Energy Programs facilitates the responsible development of renewable energy resources on the Outer Continental Shelf through conscientious planning, stakeholder engagement, comprehensive environmental analysis, and sound technical review.  

In 2009, the Department of the Interior announced the final regulations for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Renewable Energy Program, which was authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). These regulations provide a framework for issuing leases, easements and rights-of-way for OCS activities that support production and transmission of energy from sources other than oil and natural gas.

Since the regulations were enacted, BOEM has worked diligently to oversee responsible renewable energy development. 

NOAA Fisheries and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Announce Efforts to Mitigate Impacts of Offshore Wind Energy Development on NOAA Fisheries’ Surveys.