Offshore Wind Insider

2021 was an incredible year for U.S. offshore wind. The Biden Administration matched the pace of state governments to jumpstart the nascent industry and its supply chain. Join host Brandon Burke, along with the Network’s Aybala Sen, Laura Hastings, and Sam Salustro, as they discuss the top offshore wind power news, industry accomplishments, and lessons learned in 2021. Credits: Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor. Content, audio engineering, editing, and sound design by Brandon Burke.

Technological advances are making ocean mapping and offshore data collection easier, safer, and more accurate. One company at the forefront of this opportunity is Saildrone, who are utilizing their innovative uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) to advance the U.S. offshore wind market. Join Brian Connon, Vice President of Ocean Mapping at Saildrone, and host Brandon Burke as they discuss these innovative technologies. Credits: Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor. Production assistance by Alec Gomez. Content, audio engineering, and sound design by Brandon Burke.

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. Credits: Editing by Jeff Gasser. Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor. Production assistance by Alec Gomez. Content, audio engineering, and sound design by Brandon Burke.

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: Editing by Jeff Gasser. Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor. Production assistance by Alec Gomez. Content, audio engineering, and sound design by Brandon Burke.

Supply chains across the world are being impacted by the effects of COVID-19. Manufacturing and production lines across America, including for offshore wind, have experienced backlogs. LS Cable USA’s Project Director, Bill Wall, who has more than 40 years of worldwide offshore marine construction and development experience, joins host Brandon Burke to discuss the critical role submarine cables play in the fast developing U.S. offshore wind industry. They touch on submarine cable management and storage considerations, potential supply chain bottlenecks, and Bill hints at some investments that LS Cable USA may be making. Credits: Editing by Jeff Gasser. Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor. Production assistance by Alec Gomez. Content, audio engineering, and sound design by Brandon Burke.

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. Credits: Editing by Jeff Gasser. Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor. Production assistance by Alec Gomez. Content, audio engineering, and sound design by Brandon Burke.

The U.S. is poised to emerge as a leader in the floating offshore wind space. In late May, the Biden Administration continued its efforts to jumpstart the U.S. offshore wind industry by advancing offshore wind areas off of Northern and Central California. Off the West Coast, and in several other regions around the U.S., significant water depths will require deployment of floating offshore wind turbines. Siemens Gamesa’s Abby Watson, Mainstream Renewable Power’s Paula Major, and Principle Power’s Amisha Patel – three influential women in floating offshore wind – join host Brandon Burke to discuss this massive opportunity for U.S. clean energy leadership and innovation. They’ll address permitting floating offshore wind platforms, intersections with hydrogen and offshore oil and gas, export opportunities, and the factors necessary to long-term success in this cutting-edge clean energy industry. 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.

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: Content, audio engineering, editing, and sound design by Brandon Burke. Music by Brandon Burke with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor.

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. 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.

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.

On the 4th anniversary of the Block Island Wind Farm going into commercial operations, US offshore wind veteran and US Wind's new CEO, Jeff Grybowski, returned for his second episode of Offshore Wind Insider. We talked about Jeff's new role, Maryland's increased state offshore wind target, transmission, regional collaboration, and more. 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 December 16, 2020. Published January 25, 2021.

Fara Courtney (Outer Harbor Consulting) and Michael Goggin and Rob Gramlich (Grid Strategies LLC) joined us to discuss the Network’s Offshore Wind Transmission White Paper, published on October 26, 2020. 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 October 19, 2020. Published October 26, 2020.

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. Recorded March 2, 2020. Published March 12, 2020.

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. Credits: Content, audio engineering, and editing by Brandon Burke. Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from Nathan Ezzo, Steven Reilly, and Miles Taylor. Recorded February 5, 2020. Published February 24, 2020.

Welcome to the new season of Offshore Wind Insider, the podcast from the Business Network for Offshore Wind! 2019 was an eventful year for the American offshore wind industry. Among many other developments, several states increased their offshore wind capacity targets, utility-scale projects were procured up and down the East Coast, the total procured U.S. offshore wind capacity exceeded 9 gigawatts for the first time, and the world’s first 12-megawatt offshore wind turbine was debuted. Join host, Brandon Burke (the Network’s Policy and Outreach Director), as we recap a transformational year for U.S. offshore wind! Note that this podcast episode is a companion to the Business Network’s forthcoming 2020 State of the States webinar series and 2020 Market Update, which are both members-only benefits. Contact us today to discuss becoming a member of the Business Network! Credits: Content, audio engineering, and editing by Brandon Burke. Music by Brandon Burke, with contributions from: Nathan Ezzo Eric Malley John Pszwaro Kevin Ragone Peter Resotka Miles Taylor Brian Zabinski Recorded January 10, 2020. Published January 20, 2020.