The Oceantic Network reflects on tonight’s State of the Union Address – U.S. offshore wind supply chain is growing but incentives are needed to accelerate progress
For Immediate Release: March 1, 2022
Media Contact: Melinda Skea | [email protected] | 202-709-9793
WASHINGTON – At the State of the Union tonight, President Biden focused on building domestic supply chain capabilities and spoke of the need for tax incentives for clean energy development and manufacturing to develop the renewable energy industry. Passage of the President’s clean energy package would accelerate investments into the U.S. offshore wind industry and its emerging manufacturing base, directly leading to substantial job creation and secure the nation’s deployment goals.
The Oceantic Network recently released its annual U.S. Offshore Wind Market Report, which outlines how the Biden administration’s efforts in the past year have advanced the offshore wind industry and the substantial growth in the domestic supply chain. The Network, which tracks the market through its Market Dashboard and Supply Chain Registry, found the number of identified contracts increased 106 percent over the previous year, with 61 percent of contracts going to U.S. based companies. Federal actions, in conjunction with continuing state support, resulted in substantial supply chain investment and activity, including $2.2 billion in new investments and the announcements of nine new manufacturing facilities creating the blades, steel towers and foundations, and cables of an offshore wind project. The administration has kept the industry’s momentum rolling with last week’s successful New York Bight lease auction and tonight’s call on Congress to advance legislation supporting the industry.
John Begala, vice president of Federal and State Policy at the Oceantic Network, issued the following statement:
Over the past year, a domestic supply chain has emerged to support an offshore wind energy industry that is creating well-paying jobs in more than 30 states, but this progress must be accelerated. Global supply chains are experiencing tremendous demand and ensuring that U.S. clean energy goals are met requires greater effort to localize the supply chain. The case for safeguarding our energy independence by developing the U.S. renewable energy industry has never been clearer.
Congress can support this critical industry by passing incentives to manufacture and deploy offshore wind in the U.S. and help secure the nation’s energy future while creating tens of thousands of jobs and revitalizing American manufacturing and shipbuilding. The Network looks forward to working closely with the Biden administration and our federal and state partners to build on offshore wind’s momentum in the year ahead to create new economic opportunities while building clean electricity.
For more information or to arrange an interview with the Network, contact Melinda Skea at [email protected] or 202-709-9793.
Additional Information:
The Oceantic Network is the largest non-profit organization dedicated solely to building a robust offshore wind supply chain and expanding adoption of offshore wind energy. It advances the industry through collaboration, education, and innovation, including the International Partnering Forum (IPF), the leading offshore wind conference in North America, and the OSW Market Dashboard. Learn more at offshorewindus.org.
