Offshore Wind Insider

The Biden Administration’s bold, unified approach to kickstarting U.S. offshore wind deployment has created a consistent advancement of projects through the federal permitting process. Guest Matt Palmer, President of Wood Thilsted USA, a veteran of the U.S. offshore wind industry, has been involved since the days of Nantucket Sound. Matt and host Brandon Burke talk about how these actions can create regulatory certainty and enhance investor confidence, all of which will be necessary to meet the 30 GW by 2030 national offshore wind deployment target.

Washington State has an extensive maritime history, advanced infrastructure assets including deep-water ports, a strong workforce, a culture of innovation, and experience with large-scale electricity generation. Given these advantages, why aren’t we hearing more about offshore wind in Washington? Guests Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins, Jennifer States from Washington Maritime Blue, and Brian Young from the Washington State Department of Commerce join host Brandon Burke to consider that question, including how these advantages can be leveraged to drive the U.S. offshore wind market forward.

Credits:  

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters’ David Borrus weighs in on the intensifying workforce demands of the U.S. offshore wind industry and the key role organized labor can play to meet these growing needs. New projects over the coming years will demand more workers – requiring both older generation knowledge and skills as well as an influx of new workers. Host Brandon Burke and David discuss insights on job creation associated with the Vineyard Wind project, entering construction in fall 2021. They also delve into how the U.S. offshore wind industry is driving new career opportunities for more diverse workforce.

California, the world’s fifth largest economy, has some of the best offshore wind resources in U.S. waters. The state’s ambitious climate legislation, SB-100, calls for 100 percent clean, carbon-free electricity by 2045. To-date, solar has driven significant changes in California’s energy mix but on its own cannot ensure the state’s clean energy goals. Right now there is an incredible opportunity for floating offshore wind to contribute to California’s clean energy mix. California State Assemblymember David Chiu joins host Brandon Burke to discuss California's AB-525 offshore wind legislation and the opportunities it will provide the energy-hungry state.

Credits: 

The Biden Administration has made clear that offshore wind is an important part of America’s growing renewable energy portfolio. Amanda Lefton, new Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, joins host Brandon Burke to discuss the Biden Administration's focus on offshore wind, the recent release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Vineyard Wind project, and how BOEM is addressing permitting for floating offshore wind projects in federal waters. The episode also includes a "lightning round" of regional updates on offshore wind around the United States. 

Join host Brandon Burke and guests Nse Esema (NYC EDC), Teaera Strum (Strum Contracting), and Damian Bednarz (EnBW North America) as they discuss the intersections between offshore wind and diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice, through the lens of New York City’s South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and Sunset Park community. This episode also touches on what MWBEs and small businesses can do to position themselves as “opportunity ready” to participate in the supply chains of U.S. offshore wind projects. The Group also unpacks how the federal government places environmental justice at the core of climate policy decisions and what that means for offshore wind energy development.

Credits:

Content, audio engineering, editing, and sound design by Brandon Burke.

Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor.

Recorded February 22, 2021. Published February 24, 2021.

Tim Sullivan and Brian Sabina (New Jersey Economic Development Authority) joined us to discuss the New Jersey Wind Port, the WIND Institute, and other developments in New Jersey's offshore wind program.

Credits:
Content, audio engineering, and sound design by Brandon Burke.

Editing by Brian Zabinski.

Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor.

Recorded September 17, 2020. Published October 1, 2020.

Erik Milito (National Ocean Industries Association) and Feng Zhang and Max Cohen (Wood Mackenzie) joined us to discuss Wood Mackenzie's August 2020 report "Economic Impact Study of New Offshore Wind Lease Auctions By BOEM."

Credits:
Content, audio engineering, editing, and sound design by Brandon Burke.

Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor.

Recorded August 18, 2020. Published September 1, 2020.

Janice Fuller, Lawrence Mott, and Peter Shattuck from Anbaric joined us to discuss Anbaric’s unique approach to offshore wind transmission, including the company’s OceanGrid proposals and some critical observations about the onshore grid. During the second half of episode, we focused on a recent Brattle Group report examining the benefits of offshore wind transmission planning in the ISO-NE control area.

Credits:
Content, audio engineering, editing, and sound design by Brandon Burke.

Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor.

Recorded June 30, 2020. Published July 22, 2020.

Mark Mitchell from Dominion Energy joined us to discuss the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project, Dominion Energy’s recently-announced intention to construct a Jones Act-compliant offshore wind turbine installation vessel, and Dominion Energy’s uniquely integrated approach to offshore wind development.

Credits:
Content, audio engineering, and editing by Brandon Burke.

Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor.

Recorded June 4, 2020. Published June 30, 2020.

Kent Herzog and Tony Appleton from Burns & McDonnell joined us to discuss offshore wind transmission, ports and harbors, and permitting.

Credits:
Content, audio engineering, and editing by Brandon Burke.

Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor.

Recorded May 18, 2020. Published May 26, 2020.

Mads Bernitt joined us to discuss Lautec's combined consultancy/IT approach to optimizing offshore wind development, including data integration and analysis for benchmarking vessel performance.

Credits: 
Content, audio engineering, and editing by Brandon Burke.

Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor.

David Maloney joined us to discuss DNV GL's new report, Offshore Wind: The Power to Progress. We considered how offshore wind could be a "new conventional" power generation resource, and touched on emerging markets, the role of pre-certification in the offshore wind development process, and joint industry projects.