Oceantic Network

Navigating Grid Stress and the Rising Role of Offshore Wind 

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At a moment when headlines about grid stress, extreme weather, and rising electricity demand are becoming more frequent, this year’s conference session featuring Hillary Bright of Turn Forward in conversation with energy analyst Oliver Stover of Charles River Associates could not have been timelier. Their discussion at Oceantic’s 2026 IPF unpacked the rapidly changing dynamics of America’s electrical grid—and the increasingly pivotal role that offshore wind can play in meeting the country’s growing energy needs. 

The Grid Is Under Pressure—and Changing Fast 

Turn Forward’s Executive Director opened with a question many are asking: What’s driving today’s new grid realities? And Oliver Stover began by putting rising demand in a historical context. After decades of relatively flat growth, electricity demand is now climbing sharply—driven by the rapid expansion of data centers, electrification across homes and industries, and winter peak loads becoming more common as heating systems transition to electric. 

Grid planners, Oliver noted, are increasingly vocal about resource adequacy concerns. In simple terms: Will we have enough energy, at the right moments, to meet demand? This challenge is becoming more complex amid both rising consumption and more frequent extreme weather events. 

Where Offshore Wind Fits In: Performance Matters 

Another key question is how offshore wind fits into this evolving landscape. Oliver acknowledged the elephant in the room: the recent winter storms that swept across much of the country. Those storms highlighted vulnerabilities in certain traditional generation sources, especially natural gas, which face supply constraints and operational wear‑and‑tear during deep cold. 

Offshore wind, on the other hand, delivers strong performance during both winter and summer peaks. Its high-capacity factors and predictable output during system‑stress events make it a valuable complement to existing resources. January’s Winter Storm Fern demonstrated that renewable resources are actually helping to keep a lid on prices. 

Is Offshore Wind Too Costly? New Research Suggests Otherwise 

But what about the misconception around the cost of offshore wind? 

Charles River Associates shared key findings from their recent work evaluating offshore wind within integrated resource planning (IRP) frameworks. They summarized that offshore wind is increasingly cost‑competitive, especially when modeled alongside the full system benefits it provides, such as reduced fuel price risk and improved reliability. That insight cuts against the prevailing narrative that offshore wind is simply “too expensive” to scale. 

Will Offshore Wind Replace Natural Gas? Not So Fast—And That’s a Good Thing 

Offshore wind should be woven into an all-of-the-above energy approach. Other energy sources will continue to play a pivotal role for the foreseeable future. Hillary emphasized that the grid is strongest when built from a diverse toolkit. Different resources excel under different conditions, and offshore wind’s characteristics—especially during winter stress periods—make it a powerful partner, not a replacement. Complementarity, not competition, is the key. 

Key Takeaways: We Need “All of the Energy We Can Get” 

Turn Forward wrapped up the session by reflecting on several powerful throughlines that emerged from the conversation. Above all, she noted a clear sense of urgency: the United States must bring new power resources online quickly, across all technologies, to keep pace with accelerating demand. The era of assuming electric reliability, she emphasized, is over. With grid growth reaching unprecedented levels, sustained investment is no longer optional but essential.  

Within that landscape, offshore wind stands out as a strategic asset: it is cost competitive, scalable, and fuel free, and its strongest production often aligns with the very periods of grid stress highlighted earlier in the discussion. Still, Bright warned that no single resource will solve these challenges alone. Offshore wind’s greatest strength may be how well it complements other generation sources, reinforcing the need for a resilient, diversified, all-of-the-above energy strategy.  

Resilient Ports: Why Multi‑Use Models Matter Now More Than Ever

Industry leaders gathered recently to discuss a timely and critical topic: how ports can remain resilient, invest wisely, and continue supporting offshore wind amid a period of market uncertainty. The 2026 IPF panel, Resilient Ports: Multi‑Use Models for a Stronger Future, brought together port operators, developers, and infrastructure investors to explore how flexibility and diversification are becoming essential strategies for port success.

One message was clear throughout the discussion—ports have always been multi‑use by nature. Offshore wind may be a powerful catalyst for investment, but it does not exist in isolation. Across the U.S., operating offshore wind ports such as South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, New London State Pier, ProvPort, and New Bedford are already proving how adaptable infrastructure can support both renewable energy and other maritime and industrial uses. Looking ahead, 29 offshore wind‑specific port facilities are planned or underway across all three coasts, underscoring the long‑term commitment to this sector even as timelines fluctuate.

Panelists emphasized that while federal investment has slowed, states continue to lead. Recent commitments from New York and California illustrate how state‑level action is keeping critical port development moving forward. At the same time, ports are adjusting their strategies—aligning expansion plans, financing structures, and design choices with current market realities rather than pulling back entirely.

International and regional perspectives reinforced this theme. From established East Coast facilities to emerging hubs in Nova Scotia, speakers highlighted how ports are positioning themselves to serve offshore wind alongside manufacturing, operations and maintenance, heavy industry, and future sectors that demand significant space, power access, and heavy‑lift capabilities. Inland and river ports, such as Coeymans, offered an additional lens on how geography can unlock new efficiencies and industrial flexibility.

Perhaps most importantly, the conversation reflected confidence in the industry’s long view. Offshore wind globally has weathered policy shifts before, and ports—historically among the most adaptable pieces of infrastructure—are built to endure. By embracing multi‑use models and resilient planning, ports are not only preparing for offshore wind’s next phase, but strengthening their role in the broader clean energy and maritime economy for decades to come. 

Learn more about other takeaways from Oceantic’s IPF Week here.

“If the five offshore wind projects currently under construction are canceled, it would cost ratepayers $45 billion over the next decade.”

That figure opened a recent discussion focused on the escalating legal and legislative pressures shaping the future of offshore wind. The point was clear: what happens in federal courts and on Capitol Hill over the next several months will directly influence project momentum, energy costs, and investor confidence.

Janice Schneider, Partner at Latham & Watkins, outlined the industry’s string of recent legal victories—wins that have consistently reinforced the legitimacy of projects already moving through federal review. She noted that four federal judges, appointed across administrations from Reagan to Biden, independently reversed “stop work orders” issued against offshore wind projects in construction. In each ruling, the courts found that attempts to halt these projects on the basis of classified national security claims lacked transparency and failed to meet legal standards, deeming them “arbitrary and capricious.” These decisions underscore a growing judicial consensus: federally approved offshore wind projects cannot be paused without clear and substantiated justification.

At the same time, conversations around permitting reform continue to intensify. Christina Baworowsky, Senior Vice President at Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), explained that although the House-passed SPEED Act encountered late obstacles for offshore wind, a three-month window remains for the Senate to craft a bipartisan package focused on providing meaningful “permit certainty.” Such a package could create more predictable conditions for long-term energy planning and investment.

From the legal perspective, Joshua Kaplowitz, Counsel at Troutman Pepper, described how new programmatic litigation is now targeting Department of the Interior “bottleneck” memos—internal policies that have slowed or frozen permitting for both offshore wind and solar projects. These cases have implications far beyond any single project, shaping the pace at which clean energy infrastructure can advance nationwide.

As panelist Claire Richer, Senior Director of Offshore Wind at the American Clean Power Association (ACP), emphasized at Oceantic’s International Partnering Forum alongside fellow panelists, sustaining industry momentum requires more than courtroom wins. It depends on creating a stable, durable legislative framework that supports modern energy infrastructure and gives developers confidence to commit to large-scale capital investments.

The path forward lies in translating these recent legal successes into long-term, bipartisan permitting solutions—ensuring offshore wind, and other American energy sources, remain a viable, scalable part of the nation’s energy future.

From the first offshore wind farm in the United States to today’s operational projects and future pipeline, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and its District Councils have been on the frontlines of building a skilled, resilient workforce for the offshore wind industry. Their journey into offshore wind began with a landmark moment: critical work on the Block Island Wind Farm in 2015. After more than a decade of advocacy to bring the project to life, IUPAT members stepped in to deliver critical coating work under a Project Labor Agreement—setting the tone for what would become a long-term partnership with the sector. Since then, District Councils across the Northeast have expanded their involvement, contributing to major projects including two projects under construction in the Northeast, while continuing to advocate for industry growth.

IUPAT’s offshore wind strategy has a dual focus: expanding opportunities for members and ensuring they are equipped with the right skills to succeed. Across District Councils, priorities include advancing federal and state policies that unlock new offshore wind projects, strengthening partnerships with developers and contractors, and investing heavily in workforce training. Offshore wind requires specialized certifications, and IUPAT has made it a mission to ensure members are not only prepared to enter the industry, but to grow within it over time. 

Training has also presented a challenge. Limited access to highly specialized, technical certification programs such as GWO (Global Wind Organisation) and SPRAT (Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians) has created bottlenecks, slowing workforce readiness. In response, IUPAT is working to expand in-house training capabilities and leverage public and private funding to scale access, ensuring workers can meet demand as the industry calls upon them.

As more offshore wind projects come online in the U.S., IUPAT sees significant opportunity across the full lifecycle of projects—from fabrication and construction to long-term operations and maintenance. There is a strong emphasis on strengthening the domestic supply chain, aligning with efforts to keep jobs in the U.S., that support local economies and create sustained union jobs. Every stage of offshore wind development represents not just immediate work, but long-term career pathways and economic reinvestment into communities in the area. While the future of the industry faces headwinds, particularly at the federal level, IUPAT remains focused on emerging opportunities, especially in regions like the Northeast, where projects continue installation, with several already delivering much-needed energy to meet local demand.

Today, IUPAT members are actively contributing to offshore wind projects both onshore and offshore. From applying protective coatings on components at the Port of Coeymans to working on foundations and substations at sea , their expertise is helping prepare critical infrastructure for deployment. These projects are not just milestones—they are learning experiences. Members are gaining hands-on offshore experience, applying new certifications, and sharing that knowledge across the workforce to strengthen future project delivery.

One standout achievement has been witnessing projects evolve from concept to construction. For IUPAT, being part of this genesis presents both a milestone and a foundation for what comes next.

IUPAT’s value proposition is clear: a highly trained, mobile workforce that delivers quality and durability across the lifecycle of offshore wind assets. Their CAS-certified members play a key role in enhancing the longevity and performance of infrastructure, while continuous training ensures they remain at the forefront of new technologies, safety protocols, and industry needs. 

Being an Oceantic Network member has amplified IUPAT’s impact, providing opportunities for industry collaboration, technical education, and coordinated advocacy. These partnerships are essential not just for advancing projects, but for shaping the future of the offshore wind workforce.

At its core, IUPAT’s mission goes beyond project delivery. The union and its 140,000 members are committed to creating pathways into the middle class through family-sustaining wages, comprehensive benefits, and long-term retirement security. As offshore wind continues to grow, IUPAT is ensuring that its workforce grows with it—ready, skilled, and positioned to power our energy future for years to come.

As the current pipeline of offshore wind projects moves forward, the United States will need a more developed steel supply chain ready to deliver 22 million tons of steel. That’s the equivalent to building 239 Golden Gate bridges or 266 Empire State Buildings.  

The central message from a 2026 IPF panel, “Steel, Scale, and Strategy: Shaping the U.S. Energy Supply Chain of the Future,” is that, in many ways, this is a plate story. Ultra-thick, specialized steel forms the backbone of every offshore wind farm — from foundations to transition pieces to towers and secondary structures. And according to panelists, American steel mills are not standing idle. They have invested, modernized, and expanded to prepare for this market opportunity, which is exceptionally attractive due to the long-term volume and multi-decade commercial demand. The U.S. mill sector could supply more than three-quarters of the steel required for major componentfabrication today. Ergo, what the nation lacks is not plate steel but fabrication capacity. 

Maf Smith, Founding Director at Lumen Energy & Environment, whose new study with Oceantic Network inspired the discussion, argues that offshore wind presents more than an energy opportunity. It is an industrial one. The numbers, he suggests, point toward a broader reindustrialization — if the country chooses to act. Peter Lion, Senior Advisor at NYSERDA, brought a unique state’s perspective when he described those plate mills as critical infrastructure. Their availability, he noted, can serve as the catalyst for larger fabrication investments. And he emphasized another strategic asset: time. The present moment allows for qualification, planning, and deliberate buildout before the next wave begins construction. 

Timothy Mack, Vice President of U.S. Content at US Wind, called for a fundamental domestic program. The first phase of American offshore wind projects was closely tied to parallel supply chain development. By taking early and integral steps now, future manufacturing investments may be unshackled from the risks of single anchor projects. 

In short, the steel is here. The mills are running. The question is whether fabrication will follow. And the key is striking while the iron is hot — which requires steady and predictable permitting pathway that will enable this American-made buildout. 

As energy affordability continues to dominate headlines, the offshore wind industry has a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to reclaim the narrative. In a recent panel moderated by seasoned communicators from state agencies to national advocacy organizations, the discussion focused on practical, grounded ways to counter misinformation and strengthen public trust.

A consistent message is the importance of pairing real data with real people. Lisa Engler, Deputy Managing Director at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, pointed to this year’s remarkable count of North Atlantic right whale calf births, the highest since 2011. The milestone comes as five offshore wind projects were simultaneously under construction, proving that project advancement and marine life protection can coexist. At the same time, tangible progress is visible offshore, with all 62 of Vineyard Wind’s turbines now standing, representing one of the largest offshore energy infrastructure achievements in the nation.

Erin McLean, Communications Director at Turn Forward, emphasized the power of authentic messengers. Fishermen who are now working on offshore wind projects in New England, she explained, bring unmatched credibility when speaking about coexistence, benefits, and lived experience. “We have to elevate those fantastic messengers,” she said.

Panelist Abby Watson of The Groundwire Group emphasized urgency and clarity in communication. “Silence is deadly right now,” she warned. By grounding messaging in community-level impacts, from jobs to cleaner air, communicators can help audiences understand not just what offshore wind is, but why it matters. Watson pointed to debates like New York City’s transmission cable routing as examples where controversy often overshadows the bigger picture: without new clean power infrastructure, communities remain dependent on polluting peaker plants and the health impacts that come with them.

With energy once again a top‑three issue for voters, something not seen at this scale since the 1970s, the panelists stressed that the industry must clearly connect offshore wind to affordability, reliability, and modernization. As Watson put it, infrastructure upgrades should follow the same logic communities already apply: “When your state replaces a bridge or highway, they don’t use 20‑year‑old technology.”

The takeaway is unmistakable: offshore wind is no longer a future promise; it is here, happening now. And with clear, consistent, community‑focused storytelling, the industry can help the public see that too.

Learn more about other takeaways from Oceantic’s IPF Week here.

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