The US offshore wind industry is at a “critical” moment with over 20GW of projects at various stages of development, IPF19 has heard.
Liz Burdock (pictured), CEO of conference host the Business Network for Offshore Wind, told delegates in New York this morning that the more than $1bn was invested by the private sector in the final three months of 2018.
Burdock said this and New York’s decision to increase its offshore wind goal to 9GW recently has pushed the industry to a “tipping point”.
“That is that magical moment in time when we cross the threshold to gain a critical mass,” she said and the opening session.
“Offshore wind is now being embraced as part of the (US) energy mix.”
Meanwhile, Walter Cruickshank, acting director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, said the federal agency has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dutch government.
The agreement will see both collaborate on offshore wind development.
BOEM is already working with several European countries, including Denmark, in the space, he said.
This work is a “critical element” of BOEM’s future leasing work on offshore wind, he added.