The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Department of Defense (DOD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enhance collaboration on offshore wind development. This agreement aligns with the Biden-Harris administration's goal to expand offshore wind opportunities as part of its broader clean energy objectives.

The MOU was signed by Elizabeth Klein, BOEM director, and Brendan Owens, assistant secretary of defense for energy, installations, and environment. The signing took place at the Offshore WINDPOWER Conference in Atlantic City, NJ.

"BOEM is dedicated to establishing a strong offshore wind industry that supports communities and co-exists with other ocean uses," stated BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. "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."

"DOD is committed to working across the U.S. government to accelerate the ongoing clean energy transition, which is critical to ensuring access in order to fulfill our mission," said Honorable Brendan Owens. "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."

The agreement outlines shared responsibilities between DOD and BOEM in considering military preparedness during offshore wind project planning. It emphasizes early collaboration in leasing processes and regular communication between both organizations. The MOU also aims to identify areas that should be excluded from leasing due to essential military activities.

This new MOU builds upon a 1983 agreement between DOD and the Department of the Interior concerning mutual concerns on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Both agencies support deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030 and 15 gigawatts of floating offshore wind energy capacity by 2035.

For further information on offshore wind leasing or DOD energy resilience efforts, visit their respective websites.