Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Releases Offshore Wind Draft Design Guidelines, Invites Stakeholder Input

Jan. 12, 2018

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced the availability of draft guidelines for the use of a “Design Envelope” approach in construction and operations plans for offshore wind energy facilities in the United States. To take advantage of the rapid pace of technological development in the offshore wind industry, offshore wind developers have asked BOEM to adopt this practice, which is standard in some European countries, for permitting offshore wind energy projects. This would afford developers a degree of flexibility and allow them to make certain project-design decisions—such as which turbines to use—at the more commercially advantageous time later in the project-development process. It is important to note that when describing a proposed wind facility, the use of a design envelope is not mandatory; design envelopes are intended to be an optional tool for prospective developers. BOEM welcomes input from industry and other interested stakeholders before finalizing this guidance.