For Immediate Release: August 25, 2021
Media Contact: Melinda Skea
RICHMOND – The Oceantic Network today hosted key government leaders and industry trailblazers during the second day of its three-day International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum (IPF). Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, Dominion Energy, Ørsted and others made key announcements that will move the industry and its supply chain forward. The Department of Interior joined virtually, addressing the role of offshore wind in federal policy.
“The energy at IPF is palpable, from workshops, networking, and the Exhibit Hall, people are excited to be working together again,” said Liz Burdock, President and Executive Director of Oceantic Network. “I’m especially grateful we are able to come together because we are at a critical junction in our industry. We have a monumental task before us to meet the Biden’s Administration goal of 30GWs by 2030 in eight years to mitigate climate change and create new jobs that will bolster the economy. It will take coordination and collaboration to meet this challenge – everyone here is excited to roll up their sleeves and grow the offshore wind industry together.”
In its eighth year, the annual IPF conference is the premier event for the offshore wind energy supply chain. It is renown as the conference to network, strike new business deals, and problem-solve industry growing pains. During today’s Opening Plenary, several important announcements were made, including:
- Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced a deal between Dominion Energy and the Port of Virginia to create 72-acre area for assembling wind turbine foundations (statement from the Network available here).
- Ørsted announced the first-ever American-made offshore wind substation in partnership with Eversource and Kiewit, which will be fabricated in Texas for New York’s South Fork Wind Project (reaction statement by the Network available here).
- Department of Interior Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau spoke on the major role offshore wind energy will have in solving a host of environmental and societal problems in the U.S.
Other key speakers during Wednesday’s IPF included Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, who welcomed attendees to the City of Richmond, CEOs from Dominion Energy and US Wind, as well as panelists from NYSERDA, NJEDA, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs who discussed their states’ commitment to 100 percent clean energy –including implementing offshore wind energy—and what they’re learning on the path to achieving these goals.
Tomorrow, Thursday August 26, the Network will host Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Director Amanda Lefton, Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Virginia Senator Mark Warner and Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, as well as the Chief Development officer of Vineyard Wind, who will discuss the country’s first approved commercial scale project, and other industry leaders from Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, Dominion Energy, Wood Thilsted, and more.
August 26
The U.S. Contribution to the Global Market: BOEM Plan for 30 GWs and Beyond
9 a.m. EDT
featuring a discussion with Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Amanda Lefton (virtual) and RWE Renewables Senior Vice President of Offshore Development Sam Eaton
Department of Energy Remarks
9:30 a.m. EDT
featuring Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm
Building Back with Offshore Wind: A Conversation with Senator Mark Warner
9:55 a.m. EDT
featuring Virginia Senator Mark Warner and Burns & McDonnell’s Jason Cabral
Offshore Wind: Let’s Make it Happen
10:35 a.m. EDT
featuring Wood Thilsted
Vineyard Wind: The Nation’s First Approved Commercial Scale Project
10:45 a.m. EDT
featuring Vineyard Wind Chief Development Officer Rachel Pachter
Offshore Wind American Manufacturing Act
11 a.m. EDT
Featuring virtual remarks by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey and Avangrid Head of U.S. Offshore Wind Bill White
Scaling Up: Localizing the Supply Chain
11:25 a.m. EDT
35 GW of offshore wind is currently operating globally and over 230 GW is already committed in 2030 policy targets. This is still a small fraction of the 71,000 GW of global technical potential resource the World Bank has identified. Join Dominion Energy’s Mark Mitchel, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy’s Abby Watson, Anbaric’s Clarke Bruno, Vestas’ Josh Irwin, Burns & McDonnell’s Tony Appleton, and Nexans’ Sylvain Cabalery to discuss the global context for this rapidly growing industry and looks at some of the emerging market opportunities coming this decade.
Credentialed members of the media can gain free admission and schedule interviews by contacting Melinda Skea, the Network’s vice president of communications.
Additional information:
- IPF Images (photo credit: Oceantic Network)
- IPF Together website
- IPF Schedule at a Glance
Oceantic Network is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a robust offshore wind supply chain in the U.S. It advances the industry forward through education, facilitating partnerships, and events, including the International Partnership Forum, the largest offshore wind conference in America. Learn more at Oceantic.org.
