RWE, Entergy sign MoU to define route to market for offshore wind in the Gulf of Mexico

RWE has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Entergy to jointly explore the potential of the Gulf of Mexico offshore wind market. Specifically, the companies plan to evaluate the feasibility of delivering clean energy from offshore wind to industrial customers in Texas and Louisiana. The partnership will assess four key areas, including the market demand for carbon-free energy, resource economics, transmission analysis, and economic impacts. Additionally, the companies plan to assess the workforce development needed for the future.

According to Sam Eaton, CEO of RWE offshore holdings LLC, the existing infrastructure for oil and gas supply chains, workforce, and ports in the Gulf of Mexico can be leveraged to support a new offshore wind industry. Meanwhile, Phillip May, the CEO of Entergy Louisiana, stated that the partnership represents an important first step in bringing wind power to the shores of Louisiana, which will promote economic growth in the state. Deanna Rodriguez, CEO of Entergy New Orleans, added that the partnership would help understand the technical and economic viability of offshore wind.

RWE is a leading renewables developer in the US with 8 GW of operating capacity and an ambitious growth plan backed by a project pipeline of more than 24 GW of onshore wind, solar, and battery storage. Entergy, on the other hand, serves approximately three million customers across its four-state territory and is accelerating its investments in renewable power generation. The Gulf of Mexico is next on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s offshore wind lease auction schedule, and Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards’ Climate Action Plan includes a goal of 5 GW of offshore wind power by 2035.