Page 21: of Marine News Magazine (April 2021)

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tion can lift the economies and liveli- Wood Mackenzie conducted a study hoods in every state. on how bene? cial the wind opportu-

Recovering energy production in nity is for Americans. Just four lease the Gulf of Mexico is also a win for the opportunities, offshore New York, environment. In the Gulf of Mexico, the Carolinas, Maine, and California, the advancement of technology has could generate 28 new gigawatts of turned the region into an American clean energy and $1.7 billion in U.S. energy and emissions asset. Gulf of Treasury revenue by 2022. To build

Mexico oil production has a carbon- up these windfarms, the industry intensity one-half of other oil produc- would support an additional 80,000 ing regions. Deepwater production, annual jobs and generate $166 billion which accounts for 92% of produc- in additional investment by 2035. tion in the Gulf of Mexico, provides Energy demand around to world the lowest carbon intensity of any oil continues to rise. People of all walks producing region. of life depend upon abundant, af-

Likewise, along the Atlantic Coast, fordable, and reliable supplies of en- a new era of offshore energy is begin- ergy for maintaining a high quality ning—that of renewable wind energy. of life. Around 1 billion people still

After years of slower-than-anticipated lack access to electricity, and global progress, the regulatory and per- energy needs are expected to increase mitting process for the ? rst wave of by 25% by 2040.

U.S. offshore wind projects, includ- Without the U.S. offshore, energy ing Vineyard Wind and South Fork consumers of today and tomorrow

Wind, is steadily progressing. would be forced to turn elsewhere for

U.S. states have established more their energy needs. Every barrel of oil than 29,000 MW of offshore wind and every watt of electricity that the procurement targets. In the near term, women and men of the U.S. offshore offshore wind developers plan to bring sector produce is energy that our na- 9,100 MW of wind online by 2026 tion does have to import from state- through 13 offshore wind projects. backed producers in pollution havens

This is great news for the entire off- such as Russia or China. shore energy industry. The same com- Policymakers should recognize panies that built the Gulf of Mexico what our industry is achieving in the oil and gas industry are lending their Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlan- experience to build out wind projects tic Coast, and work with us to build along the Atlantic Coast. Existing even greater achievements. The off- offshore wind projects are expected shore industry is unique in how we to generate 83,000 new, well-paying can provide energy safely and sustain- jobs by 2030, with the bulk of the ably at such a large scale. The focus jobs concentrated during the develop- should be on embracing all forms of ment and construction phase. offshore energy—oil, natural gas and

With continued opportunities for wind—and opening the door to the new access, the offshore wind in- eco-nomic and environmental oppor- dustry is poised to grow even more. tunities Americans desperately need.