The US Executive has announced that it will be joining with 11 governors from East Coast states to launch the “Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership”,which it hoped would accelerate growth in the US offshore wind industry.
The intention is that the partners will work together to build a strong US-based supply chain for offshore wind, develop a skilled and experienced workforce, and build on work to address important regional matters such as transmission and interconnection, fishing and other ocean co-use issues, and other key priorities.
The partnership will also look to expand to the West Coast and the Gulf of Mexico as offshore wind energy projects develop in those regions.
The US has been seen as several years behind Europe in the development of offshore wind energy.
The Biden Administration and governors are endorsing a set of federal, state and mutual
commitments to expand key elements of the supply chain, including manufacturing facilities for offshore wind components, port capabilities, logistics networks needed to install projects, and workforce development.
The Department of Energy, along with New York and Maryland, is providing funding to develop a comprehensive offshore wind supply chain roadmap, through a collaboration led
by the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium and with other partners, including the Business Network for Offshore Wind.
The Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced the designation of offshore wind vessels as ‘vessels of national interest’ for support through
the Federal Ship Financing Program, giving these applications priority for review and funding.
The 11 states that have joined the partnership are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,
Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
