Our guests this episode are Walter Cruickshank and Jim Bennett, the Acting Director and the Program Manager for Offshore Renewables, respectively, at BOEM – the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which is the agency responsible for all energy leases in federal waters. 

Last week BOEM held an online auction for three wind energy areas south of Massachusetts. The auction was scheduled for one day but because there were so many rounds of bidding, BOEM had to extend the bidding into a second day. Not only that, the winning bid amounts blew away all of BOEM’s previous offshore wind leases. So naturally we begin the conversation by discussing the auction results – why they are so impressive, what the details are and what’s next for the winning bidders. Walter and Jim discuss how the industry has changed in just these past three years since these same lease areas were first offered at auction with no bidders, and then expand the conversation to talk about some of BOEM’s other offshore wind activity around the country, and what milestones they anticipate in the coming months and years. We look ahead to next year’s IPF at which BOEM always has a strong presence, and we close with Walter and Jim each reflecting on the state of the US offshore wind industry today and what it means for them personally having been involved in it from the very beginning. 

Recorded December 17, 2018. Published December 18, 2018. 

Our guest for this episode is Alicia Barton, President and CEO of NYSERDA, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. 

Alicia is an offshore wind veteran with over a decade of experience in the industry, and we begin the conversation with her describing her background and career path that led her to NYSERDA. We then talk about Governor Andrew Cuomo’s vision for clean energy in New York and how offshore wind fits into it. We discuss some of the specific ways in which NYSERDA is moving the industry forward, including a Supply Chain Forum it is hosting on November 15. We discuss the need for stakeholder outreach, the importance of regional cooperation, and partnership with the federal government. We look ahead to next year’s IPF for which NYSERDA is the host sponsor, and we close by looking at where things stand with NYSERDA’s upcoming 800 MW offshore wind solicitation. 

Show references include: 

• New York State Offshore Wind Master Plan 
• New York Offshore Wind Supplier Forum, Nov. 15, 2018 
• Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium 
• 2019 International Partnering Forum (IPF) 

Recorded November 7, 2018. Published November 8, 2018. 

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 approach to kickstarting U.S. offshore wind deployment created an advancement of projects through the federal permitting process. Guest Matt Palmer, President of Wood Thilsted USA, a U.S. OSW industry veteran, has been involved since the Nantucket Sound days. Matt and host Brandon Burke discuss how these actions can create regulatory certainty and enhance investor confidence, to meet the 30 GW by 2030 national OSW 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. 

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.  

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.