August 18, 2026 As record-breaking temperatures pushed electricity demand to extreme levels across the Northeast in early July this year, offshore wind demonstrated exactly why it has become an essential part of America’s energy portfolio: it showed up when consumers and grid operators needed it most. During the four-day July heat wave, grid operators from New York to New England issued alerts as soaring temperatures drove up electricity demand and strained energy systems. The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) declared an Energy Watch on July 2, PJM issued Maximum Generation and Load Management Alerts on July 1 and 2, and the U.S. Department of Energy took emergency actions to ensure sufficient electricity supply. While traditional power systems faced growing pressure, offshore wind farms off the Northeast coast delivered strong, sustained performance. South Fork Wind Reached Nearly 90% Output During Peak Demand On July 2, one of the hottest days of the summer, South Fork Wind achieved a capacity factor approaching 90%, generating electricity at nearly its maximum potential output. For context, the project’s average capacity factor during the heat wave was 74.7%, outperforming the roughly 50% capacity factor typically achieved by New York’s top-performing natural gas plant. At its peak, offshore wind generation produced enough electricity to power approximately one million homes for a full hour. These results underscore an increasingly important reality: offshore wind is not merely adding clean energy to the grid. It is helping provide reliable power during periods of extreme stress and rapidly rising electricity demand. Reliability During Extreme Weather As temperatures climbed across the Eastern United States, a dangerous heat dome contributed to widespread grid stress. Thirteen all-time temperature records were broken, and eighteen more were tied across nine states. Yet throughout the event, offshore wind conditions remained strong. Wind speeds exceeded 30 miles per hour every day during the heat wave, enabling projects such as South Fork Wind to maintain high levels of generation precisely when air conditioners, businesses, and critical infrastructure were driving electricity demand upward. The timing matters. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and electricity demand is increasing as states electrify transportation, buildings, and industry. Offshore wind provides a local, domestic energy source capable of producing large amounts of electricity during periods when grid reliability is most important. Lower Prices Through More Local Energy Supply The benefits extended beyond keeping the lights on and air conditioners running. Regions with greater access to clean energy resources experienced substantially lower wholesale electricity prices during the heat wave. On Long Island, wholesale energy prices were approximately 70% lower than prices in New York City during the event. This illustrates a fundamental market principle: when more electricity supply is available, particularly local generation that does not rely on volatile fuel costs, price pressure can be reduced. Offshore wind adds new generation capacity to the grid, helping diversify energy resources and limiting the need for expensive peaker plants to generate power on short notice. For consumers and businesses already facing rising energy costs, those impacts matter. A Growing Role in America’s Energy Future The Northeast’s operating offshore wind projects’ performance during the July heat wave provided a real-world demonstration of offshore wind’s value to grid operators, consumers, and local economies. The results are clear: offshore wind helped strengthen reliability, contributed substantial energy production during peak demand, and supported more affordable electricity prices during one of the most challenging periods of the summer. As energy demand continues to grow, these outcomes reinforce why offshore wind is an increasingly important part of an all-of-the-above energy strategy. The industry is delivering more than clean power. It is delivering reliability, resilience, and economic value when Americans need it most. Source data: Oceantic Network, American Clean Power, Grid Status, NYSERDA, Ørsted, and PJM.
August 10, 2026 This month, we’re recognizing six Oceantic Network members who brought the American offshore wind supply chain directly to Congress during Oceantic’s inaugural Federal Summer Showcase & Energy Action Day. DeTect, Indeximate, LS Cable & System / LS GreenLink, Riggs Distler, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters / North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (UBC/NASRCC), and WindServe Marine transformed the Rayburn House Office Building into an interactive showcase of the technologies, infrastructure, vessels, and skilled workforce supporting offshore wind development across the United States. Congressional staff had the opportunity to see the industry up close—from subsea cable technology and monitoring systems to vessel models and examples of the infrastructure supporting offshore wind projects. Participating members then carried those conversations into meetings with nine Congressional offices and Representative Seth Magaziner (D-RI), highlighting the industry’s contributions to American manufacturing, domestic shipbuilding, workforce development, energy security, and private investment. DeTect Inc. DeTect develops advanced radar and remote-sensing technologies used for airspace monitoring and high-precision target tracking. Its technology helps address the interaction between offshore wind turbines and radar systems, supporting the coexistence of offshore energy development and critical aviation and defense operations. Indeximate Indeximate specializes in subsea cable telemetry, electrical diagnostics, and acoustic monitoring. Its technologies provide operators with real-time information about cable conditions, helping identify risks associated with thermal stress, seabed movement, and physical interference and supporting the resilience of critical subsea infrastructure. LS Cable & System / LS GreenLink LS Cable & System is a global manufacturer of high-voltage subsea and underground power cables, a critical component of the infrastructure that connects offshore wind projects to the onshore electric grid. Through LS GreenLink, the company is expanding its U.S. manufacturing presence and supporting the development of a domestic supply chain for subsea transmission infrastructure. Riggs Distler Founded in 1909, Riggs Distler is a union utility construction and heavy industrial contractor serving the Eastern United States. The company brings heavy civil, mechanical, electrical, fabrication, and marine construction capabilities to offshore wind, including work supporting the assembly and delivery of major project components. UBC / NASRCC The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters represent the skilled tradespeople helping build America’s offshore wind infrastructure. Through apprenticeship, training, and workforce development programs, UBC/NASRCC is preparing carpenters, millwrights, pile drivers, and other craftspeople for the specialized work required across the offshore wind supply chain. WindServe Marine WindServe Marine develops and operates Jones Act-compliant vessels supporting the offshore wind industry. Built in U.S. shipyards and operated by American mariners, its vessels transport technicians and other personnel to offshore projects, demonstrating how offshore wind investment supports domestic shipbuilding and maritime jobs. One Industry. Many Capabilities. Together, these six members gave policymakers a tangible look at the breadth of the American offshore wind supply chain—from the cables beneath the seabed and vessels on the water to the technologies protecting critical infrastructure and the skilled workers building it all. Their participation in the Federal Summer Showcase demonstrated what Oceantic’s membership represents: American companies, workers, technologies, and expertise ready to build, operate, and strengthen the nation’s offshore energy infrastructure.
July 8, 2026 Strum Contracting, a Baltimore-based heavy civil infrastructure and welding subcontractor, has spent over a decade cultivating its place in America’s clean energy supply chain, not only as a builder, but as a community anchor dedicated to creating lasting career pathways for Marylanders. Strum Contracting has supported major marine infrastructure and offshore wind projects through expert project management and quality assurance. Notable experience includes the inner berth expansion at Tradepoint Atlantic, supporting port improvements for the offshore wind industry, and providing project management and Certified Welding Inspection (CWI) QA/QC oversight during the fabrication of the Met Mass Tower in Homer, Louisiana. When asked what makes them stand out, the team is refreshingly candid: they won’t claim to offer unique solutions. What they bring is a crew of certified welders who can assemble critical components and an unwavering commitment to bringing their community along for the ride. That combination of craft and community investment is, in practice, a real differentiator in an industry still finding its footing in American ports and fabrication yards. Today, the company’s sights are set squarely on port infrastructure — the often-overlooked backbone that makes offshore wind deployment possible at scale. As a heavy civil infrastructure subcontractor, port enhancements sit firmly within their scope of expertise. Strum Contracting is intent on continuing to support American ports with the upgrades and reinforcements they’ll need for the buildout ahead. It’s unglamorous, load-bearing work—exactly the kind Strum Contracting was built for. Their ambitions run deeper than contracts. Strum Contracting envisions becoming a genuine fixture of the domestic supply chain for secondary offshore wind components and, equally, the kind of employer that changes the trajectory of local communities. By pairing American Welding Society certifications with active workforce development partnerships spanning community colleges, trade schools, and local organizations across Baltimore City and surrounding counties, they’re building a pipeline of skilled tradespeople with real access to wages, credentials, and sustainable careers in the clean energy economy. Becoming an Oceantic member stands out as one of the best business decisions Strum Contracting has made. Membership opened an entirely new industry vertical, creating room to diversify, advocate for renewable energy, and build career pathways that simply didn’t exist in their communities before. For a small firm with outsized intentions, that kind of access to developers, peers, and to the table where the industry’s future gets decided—has proven invaluable. They put it plainly themselves: small but mighty.
June 15, 2026 June 15—Global Wind Day—is a moment to reflect not just on the promise of wind energy, but on the choices that will determine which nations lead the next era of global energy innovation. Offshore wind is one of America’s greatest economic and strategic advantages. However, punitive federal policy is stalling progress at precisely the moment the world is accelerating and competitors like China are surging ahead. A World Moving Forward—Without the U.S. Across the globe, offshore wind is scaling at remarkable speed. According to the Global Wind Energy Council’s most recent report, global offshore wind capacity surpassed 90 gigawatts in 2025, enough to power approximately 100 million homes. The organization expects capacity to hit 420 GW by the end of 2035 as countries race to secure reliable, domestic energy supplies. More than 50 GW of offshore wind projects are currently under construction around the world, with installations expected to double this year. China alone added more than 6 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity in 2025 and now holds 52% of the world’s total capacity, positioning itself as the dominant industrial and technological force in the sector. Europe is not standing still either. The United Kingdom and its neighbors are investing tens of gigawatts into offshore wind, with coordinated strategies to transform the North Sea into a clean energy powerhouse that will lower costs and strengthen energy security. In Asia, emerging economies from South Korea to the Philippines are launching auctions, building supply chains, and preparing to compete in a global market projected to expand dramatically over the next decade. The message is clear: offshore wind is no longer an emerging technology. It is a defining pillar of 21st-century energy systems and a cornerstone of geopolitical power. America’s Self-Inflicted Retreat After years of steady progress, federal actions since 2025 have halted new leasing, paused permitting, and even attempted to unravel projects already under construction. Projects representing gigawatts of clean energy have faced stop-work orders, delays, or cancellation, not because the technology failed, but because misguided policy replaced rational decision making. And yet, despite these headwinds, offshore wind in the United States continues to deliver. In just a few years, the industry has crossed the 1-gigawatt threshold of power to the grid, with five commercial-scale projects simultaneously under construction. These projects, like Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind and others, are generating reliable electricity, keeping the lights on and homes comfortable during cold snaps and extreme weather. They’re also lowering energy bills for communities across the Northeast, with projections into the billions over their 20+-year power purchase agreements. And critically, real-time operational data is proving what we’ve long known: offshore wind delivers power you can count on at prices consumers can afford. At a time of rising energy demand and price volatility, offshore wind remains one of the fastest, most scalable tools available to strengthen domestic energy supply. The Stakes: Innovation, Industry, and National Security The consequences of the continued federal assault extend far beyond megawatts. China is not just building wind farms—it is building industrial dominance. With vertically integrated supply chains and massive domestic deployment, it is setting global standards, capturing manufacturing share, and exporting technology worldwide. If the United States cedes this ground, we risk: Losing leadership in a critical energy technology Becoming dependent on foreign supply chains for key infrastructure Undermining our economic competitiveness Weakening our national and energy security A Path Forward The United States still has everything it needs to lead: world-class wind resources, a skilled workforce, an established supply chain, and states demanding more wind power to meet their own energy needs. What’s missing is policy certainty. To reclaim leadership, we must leverage operational performance data to demonstrate its immense value to consumers and policymakers and restore predictable federal permitting to unlock the 70 GW of stalled projects in the U.S. pipeline. Above all, we must recognize offshore wind for what it is: a strategic national asset. On this Global Wind Day, the choice is stark. We can be part of the next era of energy innovation—creating jobs, lowering costs, and securing our energy future—or we can watch from the sidelines as other nations define it. Liz Burdock, President & CEO, Oceantic Network
June 3, 2026 From marine science and environmental permitting to port redevelopment and power delivery, HDR has played key roles on U.S. offshore wind projects. Drawing on decades of expertise across engineering, environmental services, and maritime infrastructure, HDR continues to support projects that strengthen grid resilience, modernize ports, and support responsible offshore energy development. HDR, the largest 100% employee-owned architecture and engineering firm in the United States according to the National Center for Employee Ownership, emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and technical excellence. With more than 14,000 employees across over 200 locations worldwide, the company continues leveraging its broad expertise to help deliver the next generation of offshore wind, port, and energy infrastructure projects. HDR’s offshore wind experience traces back to 2015, when the company expanded upon its U.S. Navy marine mammal monitoring expertise to support the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Realtime Opportunity for Development Environmental Observations (RODEO) program. Through this work, HDR contributed to early environmental studies at the Block Island Wind Farm in Rhode Island and later at the Coastal Virginia Offshore Windpilot project. More recently, HDR has also provided similar environmental monitoring support for BOEM at Vineyard Wind 1 and the South Fork Wind Projects. Their work included advanced assessments of underwater and airborne noise, benthic habitats, seafloor conditions, visual impacts, and turbine biofouling. Since then, HDR’s offshore wind portfolio has continued to expand. Beginning in 2018, the company supported Orsted in securing approvals for a project designed to power approximately 500,000 New Jersey homes and businesses. HDR later provided engineering and power delivery services for Eversource Energy on South Fork Wind, delivering detailed design and specification of protection, control, and SCADA systems for the project’s landside substation. Today, HDR continues supporting offshore wind through multidisciplinary expertise spanning maritime planning, environmental permitting, engineering, strategic communications, and construction management. Since 2022, the company has served as a port development and permitting liaison for New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), helping advance New York’s offshore wind program through infrastructure optimization, grid integration planning, and sustainable port development initiatives. One major accomplishment includes HDR’s support services for the redevelopment of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, now a primary staging hub for Empire Wind 1. The completed facility features heavy-lift crane infrastructure, dredged berths, shore power capabilities, warehouse space, and extensive staging areas designed to support offshore wind deployment activities. HDR’s approach combines technical expertise with practical problem-solving. On the South Fork Wind Project, HDR collaborated closely with both Orsted and Eversource to develop a unified equipment naming system that streamlined communication and operational efficiency across stakeholders. The company also successfully navigated a complex federal and state permitting process, including a landfill closure approval process for the Port of Albany Expansion Project, securing regulatory approvals that allowed construction to proceed without delay. Beyond project work, HDR values the relationships and collaboration fostered through Oceantic Network membership and industry events like the annual International Partnering Forum. Through participation at IPF, HDR formed new international partnerships — including its ongoing collaboration with European offshore wind consultancy Green Ducklings — helping expand opportunities across global offshore wind markets.
April 30, 2026 Skepticism around offshore wind is not just coming from the margins. It is an increasingly frequent target of opposition groups for mainstream misinformation and centers on a familiar set of concerns: cost, reliability, jobs, and community acceptance. Those concerns framed a recent discussion among labor leaders, policymakers, and industry executives, and the message was clear: Offshore wind has moved beyond projections. Real data now exists, and it matters. The industry’s supply chain has progressed rapidly. What began with uncertainty and skepticism has evolved into execution supported by data and experience. Five commercial-scale offshore wind projects are simultaneously under construction in the U.S., each contributing to a growing base of domestic expertise. Along the way, the industry has built new installation methods, training systems, and port infrastructure while navigating complex permitting and environmental requirements. American businesses supporting this sector now span 40 states and have driven more than $25 billion in private investment. Performance data is also replacing projections. Operating projects are demonstrating how well offshore wind performs under real-world conditions, particularly during winter periods when electricity demand is high and the grid is most strained. In the Northeast, offshore wind’s strong winter capacity factors reduced reliance on expensive fossil fuels, stabilizing energy prices and saving communities money when they feel these cost pressures most acutely. The rising cost of energy remains a central concern, but it is not unique to offshore wind. Demand is increasing, and states are grappling to meet it. And offshore wind can deliver today, with 7.5 GW of shovel-ready projects that can be built by 2031. Like other emerging industries, early projects absorb higher costs that decline as supply chains mature and processes improve. The current slowdown offers an opportunity to refine procurement strategies, improve cost structures, and recalibrate risk allocation. What the industry needs most now is predictability; in policy, permitting, and timelines. One of the most tangible pieces of evidence is the impact on America’s workforce. A single offshore wind project created 3,700 American jobs, including 1,500 union jobs (full report online). Behind those figures is a dedicated investment in people. Offshore wind workers undergo roughly 225 hours of specialized training before deployment, developing skills that are transferable and hard-earned. The risk today is not a lack of labor demand, but continuity of work. A gap between projects could mean losing a highly trained workforce that took years to build, undermining availability, efficiency and safety when activity resumes. Right now, offshore wind is defined by hard numbers: jobs created, steel installed, energy delivered, and lessons learned. The data exists, industry dedication isn’t wavering, and state demand for offshore wind energy remains strong. Bipartisan permitting reform is the next critical step to ensure manufacturers, shipyards, and skilled workers aren’t forced to sit idle, raising costs and delaying benefits for millions of residents.This is part of a 2026 IPF recap series, read more at www.oceantic.org.
