On July 18-21, CLDP, together with the U.S. Department of Interior, co-lead a technical hybrid workshop, “Essential Elements of an Offshore Wind Regulatory Regime,” in Boston, MA, for nearly 40 Colombian government officials. This workshop supported Colombia’s efforts to enhance their renewable energy sector by establishing a comprehensive foundation for a sustainable offshore wind regulatory regime.

Colombian government participants included representatives from the Colombian Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME), Energy and Gas Regulation Commission (CREG), National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA), Ministry of the Environment (MinAmbiente), Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), and the investigative branch of the Marine and Coastal Research Institute (INVEMAR). U.S. experts included officials from the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration (ITA), Beveridge & Diamond, and Synapse Energy.

The program began with opening remarks from the State Department’s Kristy Bibb, Foreign Service Officer in the Power Sector Program. Then the Commercial Law Development Program set the stage for the technical discussions presenting a high-level overview of the essential elements for an effective offshore wind regulatory regime. This presentation accompanied a more in-depth memo developed by CLDP and BOEM that details the key components of a successful regulatory framework, including environmental review considerations. Technical experts from BOEM showcased the U.S. offshore wind planning and authorization model in the U.S., including jurisdictional divisions and highlighted key differences between the U.S. and other offshore regimes around the world. The Colombian participants introduced their respective ministries and presented on the particular roles each ministry plays in the development of offshore wind development. In the afternoon, BOEM presented the U.S. offshore wind planning process, highlighting the leasing / auction model government-led area identification, and how to address key environmental considerations in planning and project review phases.

The second day began with an interactive case study facilitated by CLDP that enabled the participants to gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate competing priorities between stakeholders while achieving shared goals of increasing energy resilience and accessibility across Colombia. Continuing with stakeholder engagement and collaboration, experts from Beveridge & Diamond presented the private sector perspective to provide participants with a holistic understanding of the offshore wind process. BOEM experts then explored the technical analyses inherent to offshore wind planning through sessions dedicated to evaluation and mitigation of impacts to cultural resources, viewshed, indigenous resources, biological resources, fisheries, and extensive environmental reviews conducted in close collaboration between the government and developers throughout the project. 

This workshop followed a two-day offshore wind conference in Boston, MA, where the Colombian delegates heard directly from U.S. regulators, U.S. and international offshore wind companies, financiers, and other key stakeholders on how to attract private investment into new offshore wind farms.