White House Proposes $5M Boost in Offshore Renewable Energy Efforts

On Tuesday, February 11, 2020, the White House called for increased spending on efforts to manage the growth of offshore renewable energy development – including offshore wind energy – in the U.S. The government’s proposed FY2021 budget includes a nearly $5 million dollar budget increase earmarked for offshore renewable energy in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), a division of the Department of the Interior, to $26.5 million over the current $21.3 million.

This increase could allow for greater development of offshore wind along U.S. coastlines and additional resources to maintain project reviews.

The following statement can be attributed to Liz Burdock, president of the Business Network for Offshore Wind:

“The White House’s focus on offshore renewable energy as an economic development opportunity shows they understand America’s growing demand for offshore wind energy. As Americans increasingly support renewable energy to power their towns and cities, offshore wind is capable of not only meeting those needs but powering the world 18 times over. In the last decade, the Network has seen how this new growing industry has attracted a deep and diversified supply chain from every region in the county and we appreciate the incredible day to day efforts BOEM has invested in the future of energy in the U.S.”