Energy experts on a panel at the Offshore Technology Conference held this past week in Houston, Texas discussed the varied factors contributing to what they see as a booming U.S. offshore shore wind (OSW) industry. They cited the emergence of a new U.S. heavy industry that is ready to install, connect and service offshore wind turbines well supported by a supply chain comprised of U.S. oil & gas firms, onshore wind manufacturers and European OSW leaders.
The experts noted the 25 gigawatts (GW) in the current OSW project pipeline, with 8 GW of firm commitments in six states in the northeast. In addition, the installed infrastructure has now reached a scale capable of powering a wide range of energy needs along the east coast.
“The industry is moving at a phenomenal pace,” said Walter Cruikshank, Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). “There is great industry-wide confidence in the market. There are strong policy commitments from the states, particularly in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, and a strong commitment from this Administration,” he said. “We are actively working with leaseholders to move their projects forward.”
The six northeast states active in OSW initiatives are Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. They will be the beneficiaries of both clean energy and share in the estimated 40,000 full-time jobs that will be created by 2028 and 500,000 through 2056, according to the panel experts
“In the past two years, the U.S. industry has made dramatic advances in policy commitments and investor confidence. We no longer wonder if this industry will make it to America’s shores,” said Stephanie McClellan, director of the University of Delaware’s Special Initiative on Offshore Wind (SIOW). “There’s good reason to be excited – and U.S. offshore energy and OSW industry leaders are working to ensure that U.S. companies bring their full expertise to this effort.”
The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is held annually at NRG Park in Houston where energy professionals gather to exchange ideas that will advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters. OTC is sponsored by 13 industry organizations and societies who collaboratively develop the technical program.
