Happy spring! Allow me one seasonal pun – it really feels like the offshore wind industry in New England is set to blossom this season. I’m in beautiful New Orleans, LA this week for the annual International Partnering Forum (IPF) hosted by Oceantic Network. This is the largest offshore wind conference in the Americas, and I’ve been meeting dozens of offshore wind folks from around the world. I want to share some positive energy that I’m seeing here on the ground – and the hope that it’s bringing to the industry.
Just this morning at the keynote presentation, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a new 5-year offshore wind leasing schedule for federal waters, including two lease auctions for the Gulf of Maine. This will send a powerful market signal to developers that the federal government is planning ahead for a prosperous and resilient offshore wind future that will benefit communities across our nation.
Zooming into New England, the City of Salem signed a groundbreaking Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) in late Feb., "a public-private partnership to support the growth of renewable, offshore wind energy,” as described by Mayor Dominick Pangallo. What does this mean exactly? CBAs are negotiations in which developers provide funding to a community in return for advancing their project within it. In exchange for allowing offshore wind construction in its deep-water port, Salem will receive millions of $ for educational investment, equitable climate action funding, and maritime scholarships. This funding is just a glimpse at the many benefits of offshore wind, which range from the obvious (advancing clean energy), to deep generational investments.
In addition, our colleagues in Maine have been working long days to make sure that the first-in-the-nation floating offshore wind port will be built in the Midcoast town of Searsport. Utilizing Maine’s best asset (its deep-water port capacity), this project provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revitalize the regional economy through family-sustaining union jobs, reliable renewable energy, and reduced energy prices.
Of course, we had some huge news on the South Coast last month. Four offshore wind developers submitted bids totaling 5,455 MW in response to the joint solicitation from MA, CT and RI. What’s a joint solicitation? It’s a collaborative multi-state agreement in which states work together to solicit wind energy generation. In simple terms, that means it reduces project costs through developing at scale and amplifies regional economic benefits.
Having one resounding voice sends a message to developers that we mean business – so, let’s continue to brainstorm how we can encourage other states in our region to follow suit. Looking at you, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont!
📷 : My good friends and coalition partners at the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America.
