As the final session of the 2026 International Partnering Forum (IPF), “Playing the Long Game: Preparing for the Next Chapter of Offshore Energy” served as the conference’s capstone conversation.
Framed around IPF’s theme of “Reimagine, Renew, Reignite,” the session left attendees with clarity, direction, and momentum—distilling a week’s worth of conversations into one forward‑looking dialogue focused on action.
Moderated by Jen Brock, Chief Development Officer at the Oceantic Network, the session was a reminder that the industry has entered its most defining period yet. Alongside three leaders representingadvocacy, communications, and labor, the panel tackled a central question facing the offshore wind sector: How do we use this pivotal moment not to pause, but to prepare?
Reigniting Confidence with Real‑World Data, Clear Narrative, and Local Value
The discussion opened with a reminder that while the past year brought turbulence, the industry is no longer operating on projections alone. Projects are delivering power and real‑world data now exists to validate offshore wind’s performance, economic benefits, and environmental value—evidence that simply didn’t exist at this scale five years ago.
The panel emphasized that this data gives the industry a strong foundation, but only if stakeholders protect it, use it, and communicate it effectively.
It’s a powerful tool for combatting the mismatch between public perception and reality, as well as building durable political support in the coming years. Offshore wind now has the data, but not the dominant narrative, explained Raquel Pichardo, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of The Groundwire Group. To win trust, she urged the industry to:
- Prioritize what communities care about: affordability, health, and reliability
- Share consistent messages across states, agencies, and developers
- Elevate local messengers—workers, small businesses, fishermen, and community leaders—who can speak authentically to the benefits
Silence, she warned, is the industry’s biggest risk. It leaves space for misinformation to fill the void. A focus on framing offshore wind through local economic pride and community benefits will also be critical for depoliticizing offshore wind, said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters.
The industry’s next phase, she argued, must anchor support in lived experiences—not just policy goals. Jobs, manufacturing, homegrown energy, and long‑term cost stability resonate far more deeply with voters than abstract climate messaging.
Building on that point, Ed Hill Jr., International Representative for Business Development at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), reminded the audience that readiness is not just political or narrative––its workforce-based.
Development may ebb and flow, but workforce training cannot. If the industry allows its skilled labor pipeline to contract now, it will lose years of momentum when construction accelerates again. The U.S. will need trained workers—on vessels, at ports, and in manufacturing facilities—ready to mobilize when the next procurement cycle begins.
The session concluded where IPF began: with optimism grounded in reality. The industry has built the foundation. The data is strong. The benefits are visible.
The next chapter isn’t about waiting—it’s about preparing. And when the market shifts, the industry that plays the long game now will be the one ready to lead.
