Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force Meetings

Background and Purpose

BOEM held its fifth Gulf of Mexico Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force meeting on April 18, 2024. Established in 2021, the Task Force is a partnership between federal, state, and local agencies and Tribal governments tasked with coordinating renewable energy planning activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. It serves as a forum to discuss stakeholder issues, exchange data and information about ocean use and resources, and facilitate collaboration opportunities.

The purpose of the meeting was to update task force members on offshore wind energy planning activities and to discuss next steps in the BOEM leasing process, including the recently announced proposal for the second offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, the meeting aimed to:

• Facilitate coordination and consultation among federal, state, local, and tribal governments regarding offshore wind energy and the renewable energy leasing process on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico.    
• Update the Task Force members and stakeholders on recent state activities.
• Provide an overview and seek in-depth feedback on the Proposed Sale Notice and related auction format.
• Provide forum for discussion and information to ensure BOEM is informed about TF members' interests.
• Provide opportunities for public input about the topics being considered by the Task Force.  

Meeting Materials

• Task Force Meeting Agenda
• Task Force Meeting Roster
• Gulf of Mexico Task Force State Memo
• Gulf of Mexico Task Force BOEM Charter
• Task Force Meeting Summary
• Presentation
• Meeting Recording

Posters/Resources

• Gulf of Mexico Questions and Answers
• Potential Offshore Wind Foundations
• The BOEM Renewable Energy Process
• Wind Energy Commercial Leasing Process
• A Citizen's Guide to the BOEM Renewable Energy Authorization Process
• Regulatory Framework and Guidelines
• Offshore Wind in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Regional Economic Modeling & Site-Specific Analyses  
• Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies in the Gulf of Mexico
• Fisheries FAQ's

Background and Purpose

BOEM held its fourth Gulf of Mexico Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force meeting on April 11, 2023. Established in 2021, the Task Force is a partnership between federal, state, and local agencies and Tribal governments tasked with coordinating renewable energy planning activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. It serves as a forum to discuss stakeholder issues, exchange data and information about ocean use and resources, and facilitate collaboration opportunities.

The purpose of the meeting was to present information on the Proposed Sale Notice (PSN); additionally, this meeting aimed to:

• Facilitate coordination and consultation among federal, state, local, and tribal governments regarding offshore wind energy and the renewable energy leasing process on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico.    
• Update the Task Force members and stakeholders on recent state activities.
• Provide an overview and seek in-depth feedback on the Proposed Sale Notice and related auction format.
• Provide forum for discussion and information to ensure BOEM is informed about TF members' interests.
• Provide opportunities for public input about the topics being considered by the Task Force.

Commenting closed on April 25, 2023.  Comments can be viewed at www.regulations.gov and searching for docket number BOEM-2023-0021.

Meeting Materials

• Task Force Meeting Agenda
• Task Force Meeting Roster
• Gulf of Mexico Task Force State Memo
• Gulf of Mexico Task Force BOEM Charter
• Task Force Meeting Summary
• Presentation
• Meeting Recording

Posters/Resources

• Gulf of Mexico Questions and Answers
• Potential Offshore Wind Foundations
• The BOEM Renewable Energy Process
• Renewable Energy Fact Sheet
• Wind Energy Commercial Leasing Process
• A Citizen's Guide to the BOEM Renewable Energy Authorization Process
• Regulatory Framework and Guidelines
• Offshore Wind in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Regional Economic Modeling & Site-Specific Analyses  
• Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies in the Gulf of Mexico
• Fisheries FAQ's

Background and Purpose

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) held its third Gulf of Mexico Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force meeting on July 27, 2022. The Task Force is a partnership between federal, state, and local agencies and Tribal governments tasked with coordinating renewable energy planning activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. It serves as a forum to discuss stakeholder issues, exchanges data, and information about ocean use and resources, and facilitate collaboration opportunities.

The purpose of the meeting was to present the potential areas identified in federal waters offshore the Gulf of Mexico that may be suitable for offshore renewable energy development. The Task Force will provides critical information to the decision-making process. Specifically, this meeting will aim to:

• Facilitate coordination and consultation among federal, state, local, and tribal governments regarding offshore wind energy and the renewable energy leasing process on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico.  
• Update the Task Force and stakeholders on recent state activities.
• Provide an overview of and seek in-depth feedback on the proposed Wind Energy Areas (WEA).
• Provide an overview and feedback on the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider the potential impacts from issuance of offshore wind energy leases within 30-million-acres just west of the Mississippi River to the Texas/Mexican border
• Provide forum for discussion and information to ensure BOEM is informed about TF members' interests
• Provide opportunities for public input about the topics being considered by the Task Force.

Meeting Materials

• Meeting Summary
• Task Force Meeting Agenda
• Lease Issuance Draft Environmental Assessment
• Task Force Meeting Roster
• Gulf of Mexico Task Force State Memo
• Gulf of Mexico Task Force BOEM Charter
• Draft WEAs
• Draft Environmental Assessment

Posters/Resources

• Gulf of Mexico Questions and Answers
• Potential Offshore Wind Foundations
• The BOEM Renewable Energy Process
• Renewable Energy Fact Sheet
• Wind Energy Commercial Leasing Process
• A Citizen's Guide to the BOEM Renewable Energy Authorization Process
• Regulatory Framework and Guidelines
• Offshore Wind in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Regional Economic
  Modeling & Site-Specific Analyses 
• Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies in the Gulf of Mexico
• Fisheries FAQ's

Background and Purpose

BOEM held its second virtual Gulf of Mexico Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force meeting on February 2, 2022. Established last year, the Task Force is a partnership between federal, state, and local agencies and Tribal governments tasked with coordinating renewable energy planning activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. It serves as a forum to discuss stakeholder issues, exchanges data, and information about ocean use and resources, and facilitate collaboration opportunities.

The purpose of the meeting was to present the potential areas identified in federal waters offshore the Gulf of Mexico that may be suitable for offshore renewable energy development, and this Task Force provides critical information to the decision-making process.

Meeting Materials

• Task Force Meeting Agenda
• Task Force Meeting Roster
• Gulf of Mexico Task Force State Memo
• Gulf of Mexico Task Force BOEM Charter
• Task Force Meeting Summary

Posters/Resources

• Gulf of Mexico Questions and Answers
• Potential Offshore Wind Foundations
• The BOEM Renewable Energy Process
• Wind Energy Commercial Leasing Process
• A Citizen's Guide to the BOEM Renewable Energy Authorization Process
• Regulatory Framework and Guidelines
• Offshore Wind in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Regional Economic
  Modeling & Site-Specific Analyses 
• Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies in the Gulf of Mexico
• Fisheries FAQ's

Background and Purpose

BOEM held its first GOM Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force meeting on June 15, 2021.  This task force is chartered to facilitate coordination and consultation related to renewable energy planning activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of this task force meeting was to:

• Facilitate coordination among federal, state, local, and tribal governments regarding the wind energy leasing process on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Share information about existing Gulf of Mexico activities and marine conditions.
• Provide updates on regional offshore wind goals and developer activities.

GOM Request for Information (RFI) Materials

• GOM RFI - Federal Register Notice
• GOM RFI - Map
• GOM RFI - How to Comment

Meeting Materials

• Task Force Meeting Agenda
• Gulf of Mexico Task Force State Memo
• Gulf of Mexico Task Force BOEM Charter
• Task Force Meeting Roster
• Task Force Meeting Summary

Posters/Resources

• Gulf of Mexico Questions and Answers
• Potential Offshore Wind Foundations
• The BOEM Renewable Energy Process
• Wind Energy Commercial Leasing Process
• A Citizen's Guide to the BOEM Renewable Energy Authorization Process
• Regulatory Framework and Guidelines
• Offshore Wind in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Regional Economic
  Modeling & Site-Specific Analyses 
• Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies in the Gulf of Mexico