More than 300 staff members from 13 federal permitting agencies joined the Business Network for Offshore Wind late last week for an offshore wind industry education session. The one-day session, hosted by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, included staff representing the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Army Core of Engineers, National Marine Fisheries Service, and US Coast Guard. The forum provided a platform for federal workers involved in reviewing and permitting offshore wind projects to learn more about the growing industry.
Federal staff joined the Business Network and offshore wind industry leaders for the Offshore Wind 101 Industry Day, an educational session comprised of the Network’s Foundation 2 Blade training modules. Industry leaders presented on the foundational aspects of the offshore wind business, including the roles and responsibilities of players within the supply chain; how the structure and characteristics of the US supply chain can affect parameters of a project’s design envelope; and the types of companies within the supply chain that can affect the shape and timing of offshore wind project deployment.
“Offshore wind power is an important part of the clean energy portfolio in the Biden Administration” said Christine Harada, executive director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. “As a new energy resource in the US, it is important that we lay a solid foundation for its implementation – and that includes education of relevant staff on important industry and supply chain attributes. The Network’s Offshore Wind 101 Industry Day education session allowed key personnel the opportunity to learn firsthand the project life cycle of a wind farm as well as understand how businesses across the US can fit into the industry.”
Liz Burdock, president & CEO of the Business Network for Offshore Wind, added that the Network is committed to growing the offshore wind industry and its supply chain in the US.
“Information sharing and knowledge building is a critical component to ensure the success of this new industry” said Ms Burdock. “We’ve partnered with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council to deliver content from our Foundation 2 Blade training programme to help staff who have federal permitting responsibilities gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of offshore wind project development. We hope by providing in depth information staff can better understand the interplay between their work and the development path for any given project.”
The Business Network for Offshore Wind offers three levels of education and training programmes that help businesses enter the offshore wind market. Whether a company is curious about what offshore wind can offer or they are ready to become part of the supply chain, the Network’s programmes guide business development and help companies plan their next steps. The education and training programs address supply chain structure and project timelines, give an overview of business opportunities during each phase of a project life cycle, and more.
Starting in spring 2022, the Business Network will offer expanded industry trainings, including a weekly Offshore Wind 101 webinar, a monthly Offshore Wind Ready educational program, and Foundation 2 Blade trainings for local, state, and federal agencies, as well as businesses interested in entering the offshore wind industry.
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