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CSO Offshore Energy & Infrastructure�Work Group Call

January 24, 2024

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Agenda

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Staff Briefing

- COLLABORATE Bill Language

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Member Round Robin

- 2024 Policy Priorities

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Discussion

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Staff Update

  • Ocean Justice Strategy released Dec. 8, 2023
  • NSF – National Ocean Biodiversity Strategy RFI – Feb. 28, 2024
  • Staff notes from November 2023 call to come
  • Thank you to everyone who completed the call topic survey

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Staff Update�COLLABORATE Bill

Leasing and Permitting

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  • White House OSW Director, OSW Transmission Task Force (incl. state members)
  • Five-year offshore wind leasing schedule, updated every two years
  • Wind planning area impact studies ahead of Call for Interest –
    • Cumulative impacts
    • “compatibility of development of offshore wind energy in the applicable area with regional and State climate, energy, conservation, and coastal management planning”
    • Capacity grants
  • WEAs evaluated for potential power capacity, commercial viability, existing and future transmission availability and capacity, conflicts with other potential ocean uses and users

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Staff Update�COLLABORATE Bill

  • Nonmonetary bidding credits
  • Designated project managers at permitting agencies
  • Codifying certain COP requirements
    • Cataloging of outreach and feedback from agencies and stakeholders
    • Agency decisions w/in 150 days of ROD
    • Federal consistency review commences “as soon as practicable” after DEIS
  • Timeframe for meetings
    • Preliminary project design meeting (factors affecting layout, routes, impacts)
    • Pre-NOI Meeting (information & planning)
    • Pre-NOI initial identification of alternatives meeting

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Staff Update�COLLABORATE Bill

Offshore Transmission

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  • Recommended network-ready design & interoperability standards, COE, R&D
  • Offshore wind transmission cable corridors in the national interest (NIETC funding)
  • BOEM as lead agency – new rulemaking for ROWs
  • State electric utilities to study offshore interconnection/integration needs under

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Staff Update�COLLABORATE Bill

Fisheries

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  • Offshore Wind Energy Fisheries Compensation Fund
  • Run through Commerce/NOAA, formula based
  • Divided into Atlantic, Gulf, Pacific accounts
  • Claims process in consultation with states and councils
    • Gear loss handled under separate program based off O&G
    • Available to communities, stakeholders, tubes, regional groups
    • Up to 20M in excess of claims for mitigation grants
  • Research and “coexistence” grants

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Staff Update�COLLABORATE Bill

  • Key Provisions
  • Diff RISEE
  • Response Process
    • CSO staff reaching out to member office
    • Submit feedback for joint letter by Wednesday, February 7
    • Public comment deadline Friday, February 9

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Staff Update�Legislative Update

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Member Round Robin

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2024 Policy Priorities

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Next Call

March 2024 TBD – (March 20)