The President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali puts the BBC’s Stephen Sackur firmly in his place over his questions regarding Guyana’s policies on climate change & net zero. pic.twitter.com/irvtltPWyQ
— James Melville 🚜 (@JamesMelville) January 1, 2026
Posted in climate, Guyana | Tagged BBC, climate change, Guyana, Irfan Ali | 2 Comments »
Happy New Year! 2026 is sure to be another exciting year in the offshore energy world! Thanks for joining the parade!
While the blog deals primarily with US events and issues, international viewers are greatly appreciated. According to WordPress, the blog was viewed in over 100 countries in 2025. In terms of viewership, the top 10 after the US were (in descending order) the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, China, the Netherlands, Singapore, Norway, India, and Italy. Thanks for stopping by!
Energy drives prosperity and the opportunity for social and environmental progress. The late Petr Beckmann, an electrical engineering professor at the University of Colorado and a prominent nuclear energy advocate, reminded us:
BOE is an independent, unsponsored, ad-free blog that is dedicated to offshore safety, pollution prevention, energy production, effective regulation, and responsible energy policy.
Posted in Offshore Energy - General, Uncategorized | Tagged 2024, BOE, Happy New Year | Leave a Comment »
Posted in California, Offshore Energy - General | Tagged 9th circuit, emergency permit, PHMSA, Sable Offshore, Santa Ynez Unit, stay denied | Leave a Comment »
District Judge Jamar Walker rejected Dominion Energy’s request for an immediate temporary restraining order (TRO) that would allow work on the suspended offshore wind projects to resume immediately.
The December 28 court ruling is consistent with the Department of the Interior’s position that the TRO request be converted to a request for a preliminary injunction. Interior had argued that a preliminary injunction motion could likely be resolved by mid-to-late-January.
The Government also asserted that more time is needed to submit the classified information that is central to the dispute.
Thoughts on this case: A respected colleague recalled this advice from Don Hodel, a widely admired Secretary of the Interior during the Reagan administration: “For all its faults, a contract is a contract, great men and great nations keep their word.”
Another colleague reminded me of the offshore North Carolina oil and gas leases that were suspended in the 1990s. The companies sued the Federal government for breach of contract, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 on June 26, 2000, in Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast Inc. v. United States, that the government must repay the lessees.
If the suspended Atlantic wind leases are cancelled, the govt would presumably have to compensate lessees for lease purchase and development expenditures. The costs to the Federal govt would be enormous – in the tens of $billions.
Posted in energy policy, Offshore Wind, Regulation | Tagged 5 suspended projects, Dominion Energy, Don Hodel, TRO denied, US Dept. of the Interior | Leave a Comment »
All eyes are on the 9th Circuit. No injunction yet. Will the Court intervene to block Sable?
No evidence of intervention by the State.
Does Sable restart production tomorrow?
Traders on edge. Bulls are feeling optimistic. See X post below. 😉
Spend my barrel, parked in a harbor
‘Neath the platform spotlight
Pump it up tight, let the oil start flowin’
A little crude movin’ on a federal green light
Fits my life, oh so right
My Sable Offshore Delight— Victory II (@VictoryII1) December 30, 2025
Posted in California, energy policy, Regulation | Tagged 9th circuit, California, production restart, Sable Offshore, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Unit | Leave a Comment »
Dominion’s suit challenging the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind suspension order is attached.
Summary: “BOEM’s order sets forth no rational basis, cannot be reconciled with BOEM’s own regulations and prior issued lease terms and approvals, is arbitrary and capricious, is procedurally deficient, violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (“OCSLA”), and infringes upon constitutional principles that limit actions by the Executive Branch. This Court must therefore vacate the Order and enjoin BOEM from taking further action with respect to that Order.”
Key points raised by Dominion:
- Dominion Energy Virginia (DEV) has spent approximately $8.9 billion to develop CVOW to date, which is over two-thirds of the total projected cost of $11.2 billion.
- BOEM and Interior afforded DEV no advance warning or due process regarding the Order for CVOW.
- The Order alleges no CVOW violation or deficiency.
- The Order points to unnamed “national security threats” based on a November 2025 “additional assessment regarding the national security implications of offshore wind projects” by DoD, “including the rapid evolution of relevant adversary technologies and the resulting direct impacts to national security from offshore wind projects” generally.
- The Order deems this information “new” and “classified” without any justification or detail. Moreover, as BOEM and DoD should know, certain DEV officials have security clearances to receive and review classified information, yet never were afforded such an opportunity prior to issuance of the Order.
- DEV is suffering more than $5 million per day in losses solely for costs relating to vessel services associated with the Order. DEV is also incurring losses related to additional storage costs for the significant amount of equipment, idle workforce, contractual penalties, and additional costs.
- BOEM’s Order comprises a single page, identifies no specific concerns, and provides no supporting documentation.
- Agencies are required to consider costs and benefits in their decision-making
- Agencies are required to consider alternatives in their decision-making.
- The CVOW Order unlawfully deprives DEV of a property interest without due process.
Dominion’s weakest argument follows (bad State legislation shouldn’t dictate Federal energy policy):
CVOW is critical to Virginia’s legislative clean energy directive and DEV’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. The VCEA requires the transition of Virginia’s electric grid to 100 percent non-carbon producing energy generation by 2045. Va. Code § 56-585.5. The VCEA also states that the construction of Virginia offshore wind facilities is in the public interest. Va. Code § 56-585.1:11 (C)(1).
Posted in energy policy, Offshore Wind, Regulation | Tagged BOEM, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Department of the Interior, directed suspension, Dominion Energy, law suit | Leave a Comment »
Attached are PHMSA’s Christmas week Emergency Special Permit and Permit Analysis document. Is the path clear to restart SYU production before New Year’s day?
Three excerpts from the first attachment are pasted below. The last paragraph on p. 2 succinctly explains PHMSA’a emergency permit:
PHMSA was able to assume jurisdiction from the State because the pipeline transports Federal OCS oil and is thus inherently interstate. The perceived problem with a PHMSA takeover had been the court approved Consent Decree that was executed following the 2015 Refugio pipeline spill. That Decree specifies that the State Fire Marshal must approve a restart of the pipeline. The first paragraph on p. 2 of the permit explains PHMSA’s position that the Consent Decree has been superseded.
The provision pasted below (p. 4 of the permit) seems contradictory in that it stipulates compliance with the Consent Decree. However, PHMSA apparently sees no contradiction in that references to the Fire Marshal (OSFM) should now be read as references to PHMSA. PHMSA presumably included this provision to reaffirm the need to comply with the technical requirements in the Decree.
The second attachment is PHMSA’s analysis of the special permit. Note that the permit expires in 60 days. Public notice and opportunity for comment would be required for a renewal.
Environmental organizations reacted quickly to the PHMSA permit, filing an emergency motion in the 9th circuit (third attachment). Observations:
- Impressive effort given the time crunch. The PHMSA permit was issued on 12/23, just 3 days prior to the court filing. No Christmas break for those folks!
- If you wonder why the petition was filed with the 9th Circuit (seemed convenient given the 9th Circuit’s reputation), a filing at the Circuit level is required for appeals of PHMSA orders.
- Petitioners strongest argument: Sable is not entitled to emergency relief, as there is no real emergency. PHMSA asserts that EO 14156, which declared a National Energy Emergency, supports the emergency permit.
- The petitioners environmental doom prediction is not compelling. PHMSA’s position is that the mitigations they are imposing (reduced operating pressure, inline inspections, testing and sampling, etc) provide protection equal to or greater than than the corrosion remediation requirement that is being waived.
- The petitioners asked the Court for relief no later than 12/26. That date has passed. Will there be a ruling today?
Barring an injunction, odds are that Sable restarts production prior to New Year’s Day, when a requirement (SB 237) for a new Coastal Development Plan, takes effect.
Posted in California, energy policy, Offshore Energy - General, Regulation | Tagged consent decree, emergency permit, PHMSA, Sable Offshore, Santa Ynez Unit | Leave a Comment »
Leslie Beyer, Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM), has stepped down from her post as the leader of the Dept of the Interior’s offshore energy programs. She was the senior official at this month’s BGG1 lease sale, and made strong remarks about the importance of the offshore oil and gas program. Ms. Beyer was confirmed by the Senate in September.
Lanny Erdos, Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, has been named Acting ASLM.
This leaves the offshore energy program without a confirmed Asst. Secretary and with Acting Directors at both BOEM (Matthew Giacona) and BSEE (Kenny Stevens).
Posted in energy policy, Regulation | Tagged BBG1, BOEM, BSEE, Kenny Stevens, Lanny Erdos, Leslie Beyer, Matthew Giacona, offshore energy, US Dept. of the Interior | Leave a Comment »
Merry Christmas to those who observe the holiday, and best wishes to all BOE readers in the US and internationally!
Lars Herbst brought this fabulous Christmas sweater to my attention – a must for the holiday season! 😉
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christmas sweater, Lars Herbst, Merry Christmas, offshore Christmas | Leave a Comment »
Attached is the letter sent to operators of the 5 projects that have been suspended. The cited regulation reads as follows:
§ 585.417 When may BOEM order a suspension?
BOEM may order a suspension under the following circumstances:
(a) When necessary to comply with judicial decrees prohibiting some or all activities under your lease; or
(b) When the suspension is necessary for reasons of national security or defense.
Posted in energy policy, Offshore Wind, Regulation | Tagged 5 suspended projects, BOEM, Offshore Wind, suspension letter | Leave a Comment »
