The Gulf of America: Pioneering the Blue Economy Through Innovative Energy Technologies
Beyond oil and gas, the Gulf is accelerating the future of clean offshore energy—advancing offshore wind, carbon capture, hydrogen, and sustainable aquaculture. It’s a springboard for American leadership in a growing, ocean-based energy economy.
Carbon Sequestration: Capturing Emissions Offshore
Reducing industrial emissions while maintaining strong economic and energy output requires scalable, proven solutions. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one such tool—designed to significantly cut CO₂ emissions from major sources while leveraging existing workforce expertise and infrastructure, particularly in offshore environments.
Source: Equinor
Source: Ramboll
Hydrogen Production: Powering the Next Era of U.S. Energy Leadership
The Gulf of America can rapidly become a national hub for clean hydrogen production, leveraging its vast natural gas reserves, offshore infrastructure, and world-class industrial base. Using electrolysis powered by renewables or natural gas paired with carbon capture and storage (CCS), the region can produce scalable, low-carbon hydrogen for industrial, transportation, and energy sectors.
Securing Critical Minerals: Unlocking America’s Offshore Potential
The demand for critical minerals like cobalt, nickel, manganese, and rare earth elements is accelerating rapidly, driven by their essential role in technologies that power everything from advanced manufacturing and clean energy to defense systems and medical devices.
Source: Moana Minerals
Spotlight:
Moana Minerals Advances Offshore Monitoring in the Cook Islands
The Cook Islands marked a major step forward in its deep-sea exploration efforts with the successful deployment of three deep-sea environmental monitoring mooring arrays north of Aitutaki. The operation—conducted under approved exploration licenses—was a collaborative effort between Moana Minerals Limited (MML) and Cobalt Seabed Resources Limited (CSR).
From February 16–23, 2025, the mooring arrays were deployed aboard the research vessel MV Anuanua Moana, operated by Kiva Marine. Oversight was provided by three inspectors from the Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA), while four independent Cook Islands observers participated to gain hands-on experience and insight into this pioneering work.
Aquaculture in the Gulf of America: Unlocking Sustainable Seafood Production
The Gulf of America is poised to become a national leader in offshore aquaculture, offering a strategic opportunity to enhance domestic seafood production, bolster coastal economies, and leverage the region’s existing maritime infrastructure.
Offshore Nuclear: An Emerging Frontier
The Gulf of America—and America’s broader offshore region—could play a central role in the next wave of nuclear energy development, with advanced reactor technologies paving the way for clean, compact, and reliable offshore power generation. As the U.S. looks to diversify its energy mix while ensuring reliability and national energy security, offshore nuclear is gaining momentum as a compelling solution.
U.S. Offshore Wind: Powering Opportunity, Driven by Gulf of America Expertise
America’s offshore wind industry is scaling up rapidly, offering a generational opportunity to strengthen domestic energy production, create high-quality jobs, and diversify the nation’s maritime and industrial supply chains. At the center of this momentum are companies from the Gulf of America—many of which built their reputations in offshore oil and gas and are now applying decades of offshore engineering, construction, and logistics expertise to wind energy.
Source: Ørsted
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Securing Critical Minerals: Unlocking America’s Offshore Potential
Learn how America’s offshore frontier can supply critical minerals for EVs, renewable energy, defense, and advanced technology.
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Offshore Wind: Powering A Comeback For American Shipbuilding
Discover how offshore wind is revitalizing U.S. shipyards, creating skilled jobs, and strengthening domestic maritime industries and national resilience.
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Section 7
National Security Benefits of Gulf of America Oil and Gas: Strengthening U.S. Energy Independence Amid Global Challenges
Energy security is national security—and the Gulf of America delivers both. By reducing reliance on foreign adversaries and ensuring a steady supply of reliable, homegrown energy, the Gulf strengthens America’s global position, military readiness, and economic resilience in an uncertain world.
Section 9
A Return to Normalcy: A Baseline Case for Energy Progress
Offshore oil and gas development is a decades-long endeavor requiring massive upfront investment, complex engineering, and long-term confidence. Without regular, reliable lease sales, the U.S. risks forfeiting billions in economic growth, tens of thousands of jobs, and millions of barrels of future domestic energy production.
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The Gulf of America Forward report shows how offshore energy powers daily life, supports jobs, strengthens security, and leads on innovation and sustainability. Download now to see why the Gulf is a strategic national asset shaping America’s future.
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