Duplicative wind energy bill requirements addressed

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) maintains recent language related to offshore wind development in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of the Interior (DOI) appropriations bills is duplicative.

“The offshore wind industry is committed to compatibility with national security, and wind projects are rigorously vetted under existing law by DoD, DOI, and other agencies,” AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan said in an organizational statement. “As currently written, Defense and Interior appropriations bills do not recognize that the DoD already exercises statutory authority to review and evaluate any potential impacts to military operations, testing and training related to offshore wind development through the robust Bureau of Ocean Energy Management regulatory process.”

Kiernan said the bills needlessly impose duplicative requirements on the DoD that single out offshore wind, creating uncertainty placing America’s clean energy future at risk.

“With tens of thousands of U.S. jobs, a $70 billion supply chain opportunity, and the security that comes with additional American clean energy on the line, we urge Congress to reject this needless language,” Kiernan concluded.

The FY 2020 Defense Appropriations Bill passed out of Committee earlier this month on a vote of 30-22. The offshore wind provision was included in a manager’s amendment, a package of amendments assembled to make technical and noncontroversial changes to the bill and report.

The AWEA said language singling out offshore wind’s stakeholder engagement was included in the manager’s amendment.

The manager’s amendment was adopted by voice vote. The FY2020 Interior Appropriations Bill passed out of Committee on Wednesday, May 22nd on a vote of 30-21. Language singling out offshore wind’s stakeholder engagement was included in the manager’s amendment.