Webinar on Offshore Wind Energy

Open Communications for the Ocean (OCTO) is sponsoring a national-level discussion of “Developing Offshore Wind in U.S. Waters.”  Part 1 of this webinar, on the planning and regulatory framework for offshore wind, takes place online on Wednesday, July 19, 9 a.m. (our time).

The presenters are Brian Hooker of the Bureau of Ocean Energy (BOEM) Management Office of Renewable Energy Programs; Betsy Nicholson of the NOAA Office for Coastal Management; and Joy Page of the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technology Office.

Offshore wind can mean different things. On the East Coast, it involves turbines on fixed structures in the nearshore ocean, whereas on the West Coast BOEM is in the process of leasing areas for floating offshore wind turbines in deeper waters. The first commercial-scale facilities are beginning construction in 2023 in the Northeast. In Part 1 of this webinar series on ocean wind energy in U.S. waters, the panelists will explore the historical and policy background and framing behind the US wind energy transition, including an introduction to the planning and regulation processes and the players involved. This webinar will set the groundwork for future discussions exploring offshore wind energy, its future in U.S. waters, and its compatibility and interactions with marine protected areas and other ocean uses.

To register for the webinar, go here.