U.S. Energy Department Joins Historic Federal-State Partnership to Advance Offshore Wind Deployment

The U.S. Energy Department on June 23 announced it will spearhead the development of an all-encompassing offshore wind supply chain action plan by participating in the Biden administration’s Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership. The landmark partnership is a forum between the White House National Climate Advisor, the Secretaries of the Interior, Energy, Commerce, and Transportation, as well as the governors of 11 East Coast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The collaboration will help build a reliable domestic offshore wind supply chain, advance the growth of the industry, provide affordable clean energy and grow a skilled, well-paid U.S. workforce.

The new partnership will give impetus to President Biden’s goal of achieving 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and one hundred percent clean electricity by 2035. The collaboration is expected to result in the investment of $12 billion annually in offshore projects, which could support the construction of about 10 manufacturing plants for offshore wind turbine components and new ships for the installation of the turbines.

The effort by the energy department and partners is expected to cut 78 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, provide clean electricity for more than 10 million homes and create about 80,000 jobs. The partners have pledged to engage with affected local governments, communities, ocean users, Tribes, and other stakeholders to ensure that the development of supply chains minimizes adverse impacts and spreads benefits equitably. To ensure adverse effects are reduced to the barest minimum, the Departments of Commerce and Energy are jointly researching the effects of offshore wind and other types of ocean-based energy on the fishing industry, local communities, and the environment and learning how to align their plans with community interests.

The American Clean Power Association applauded the partnership and noted that it would lead to the rapid growth of the sector and make clean energy accessible.