Business leaders, government officials gather for Offshore WINDPOWER Conference

Approximately 1,000 business leaders, academics, environmental specialists, and government officials from around the world participated in the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Offshore WINDPOWER Conference in New York this week, AWEA said in a news release.

“You can feel the urgency to harness this new ocean energy resource coming from states and businesses competing to be first-movers,” AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan said. “Unlocking America’s vast offshore wind potential will reliably deliver large amounts of clean power, grow jobs, and cement American energy dominance.”

Seventeen U.S. offshore wind projects with a total of over 9,100 megawatts (MW) of capacity are currently in various stages of development off the East and West Coasts as well as in the Great Lakes.

Representatives from General Electric, MHI Vestas, and Siemens Gamesa attended the conference. MHI Vestas announced a $35 million investment to test their 9.5 MW offshore wind turbines at Clemson University in South Carolina.

New York, where the conference was held, has set a goal of building 2.4 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind. Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey also have policies designed to drive offshore wind capacity growth.

“We’re making unprecedented investments in infrastructure and laying the groundwork for the offshore wind industry, which is primed to benefit from New York’s talented, ambitious workforce,” Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York said. “The economic and environmental benefits offshore wind will provide is a win-win for all New Yorkers. ”