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Trade Winds: Federal Government Announces Next Commercial Offshore Wind Leasing Auction

Client Alert | 1 min read | 12.18.13

On December 17, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced a 60-day public comment period  for a proposed auction process designed to open nearly 80,000 acres offshore Maryland for commercial wind energy leasing. The announcement, which follows recent auctions of 112,000 acres offshore Virginia and 164,000 acres offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts, is the latest in a series of actions by the federal government designed to increase wind and other renewable energy production and to facilitate the development of new clean technology industries generally (previously discussed here, here, here, and here).

Insights

Client Alert | 8 min read | 12.11.25

Director Squires Revamps the Workings of the U.S. Patent Office

In March 2025, President Trump nominated John A. Squires for the positions of Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After being approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20-2, Squires was confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2025, by a vote of 51-47 after anti-filibuster measures were invoked. During and after the confirmation process, Squires emphasized several goals for the USPTO during his time as Director. Such goals included:...