Page 18: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (May/Jun 2025)

17 19

WASHINGTON WATCH NOIA logical formations for long-term CO sequestration. Like-

Congressional Action: 2 wise, as the demand for minerals like cobalt and rare earth

Laying the Legislative Foundation

The real opportunity to cement this shift, however, lies elements rises, deep-sea mining could provide further op- portunities for the offshore oil and gas sector and play a with Congress. And the gears are already turning.

As part of budget reconciliation efforts, lawmakers are role in diversifying our supply chains.

All of this depends on a strong foundation of offshore advancing provisions to mandate regular offshore lease activity. And that starts with predictable lease sales, permit- sales—effectively overriding the restrictive fve-year plan— for the next 15 years. This step is critical. By requiring the ting reform, and federal policies that recognize the strate- gic value of American offshore energy.

Department of the Interior to hold lease sales on a predict- able schedule, Congress is restoring certainty to the process

A Global Race We Can Still Win and ensuring the United States maintains a robust offshore

Global energy demand is on the rise—and it’s not leasing pipeline.

But Congress isn’t stopping at lease sales. Bipartisan slowing down anytime soon. As populations grow and discussions are already underway to address permitting developing nations lift themselves into the middle class bottlenecks that have plagued both traditional oil and and a new AI and data-driven economy emerges, the gas projects and, hopefully, emerging offshore sectors like world will need drastically more energy, not less. Off- shore resources, especially oil and gas, will be essential in wind, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and critical min- meeting that demand while supporting global stability eral recovery.

Smart permitting reform—one that maintains rigorous and economic development.

America has a unique opportunity to lead—but only environmental reviews while streamlining the process—is essential for maximizing the benefts of offshore energy if we act with urgency. Other nations have already recog- development. We cannot afford multiyear delays that kill nized what’s at stake. Authoritarian regimes like Russia and

China are leveraging their own energy resources—both projects before they start.

fossil and renewable—as geopolitical tools.

Russia wants to use oil and gas exports as leverage over

Te Ripple Efect of Ofshore Energy

Offshore energy is not an isolated industry. It supports Europe and other regions. China, meanwhile, is invest- a vast and diverse supply chain, spanning steel fabrication, ing heavily in offshore wind, subsea mining, and critical mineral supply chains, securing dominance in the energy vessel services, marine engineering, advanced manufactur- technologies of the future.

ing, and skilled labor. In the Gulf Coast and beyond, thou-

If the United States fails to fully engage its own off- sands of workers rely on a strong offshore energy industry shore capabilities, we risk ceding both economic oppor- to provide good-paying, stable jobs.

Today’s offshore energy ecosystem is also more diverse tunity, global leadership, and national security interests. than ever. Oil, gas, and wind aren’t in competition—they’re A strong offshore energy strategy serves as a powerful collaborating. And when these sectors grow together, the hedge against the ambitions of our adversaries. It also en- ables us to be a reliable energy partner to allies around result is a more resilient and innovative energy landscape.

Consider the companies supporting offshore wind the world, providing better, lower-emission energy than development today. Many of them—including vessel many of our global competitors.

This isn’t just an energy issue. It’s a foreign policy and operators and subsea construction frms—have deep experience in the oil and gas sector. A healthy leasing national security imperative.

America’s offshore industry has the tools, talent, and schedule across all offshore resources keeps this indus- trial base strong, supports workforce development, and technology to lead. We simply need the policy framework to match. With the right decisions now, we can grow our fosters cross-sector innovation.

Looking ahead, the United States has an opportunity economy, meet global demand, and ensure the United to lead in next-generation offshore technologies. Carbon States—not our adversaries—sets the tone for the next era of global energy leadership.

capture and storage, for example, will rely on offshore geo- 18 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM