Gulf of Mexico offshore wind power pilots and green hydrogen production are set to be the main beneficiaries of the US state of Louisiana’s first sector-specific state legislation, as Baton Rouge works up the gears in its drive to accelerate the region’s energy transition away from oil & gas exploration and production.
The new law, HB165, signed by governor John Bel Edwards off the back of his call earlier this year for 5GW of offshore wind power off the state’s coasts, is based on existing regulations for the sale of oil & gas leases but expands lease sizes from 5,000 acres (20km2) to a maximum 25,000 acres (100km2) to accommodate wind projects greater spatial needs at sea.
