Avangrid Renewables has hired Bill White as head of US offshore wind and Sy Oytan as deputy chief executive of its Vineyard Wind joint venture.
White will lead the development and implementation of Avangrid Renewables’ overall offshore wind strategy in the US.
Prior to joining Avangrid Renewables, White (pictured) served as president and CEO of EnBW North America, the US offshore wind subsidiary of the German utility.
He was previously the senior director of offshore wind sector development for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
White also served in the White House as a special assistant to the president and as assistant secretary at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Oytan will be joining White’s team and will oversee business management, finance, development and delivery for the Vineyard Wind and Park City offshore wind projects.
White and Oytan will be based, respectively, in Avangrid Renewables’ and Vineyard Wind’s offices in Boston, Massachusetts.
White said: “I’m proud to join the pioneers of the North American offshore wind industry.
“Avangrid Renewables is leading a new American energy transition that will create thousands of jobs while producing clean, affordable energy to tackle our mounting climate emergency.
“I am thrilled to join such a strong team dedicated to launching the future of US clean energy offshore.”
Through its partnership with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Avangrid Renewables is jointly developing Vineyard Wind, the first large-scale US offshore wind farm, off the coast of Massachusetts.
Park City Wind will supply both Massachusetts and Connecticut with clean renewable energy.
Avangrid Renewables CEO Alejandro de Hoz said: “Throughout his career, Bill has helped lay the foundation for the US offshore wind industry.
“His experience, expertise and relationships will further strengthen Avangrid Renewables’ position as an industry leader.
“Sy’s background in offshore wind project development and delivery makes him a tremendous addition to our team.
“His expertise will facilitate the successful development of these two groundbreaking offshore wind projects for Massachusetts and Connecticut.”
In addition to the two southern New England projects, Avangrid Renewables is developing its wholly-owned Kitty Hawk Offshore Wind project, a proposed 2.5GW offshore wind project off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina.
The developer has an offshore wind development pipeline of nearly 5GW.
Oytan said: “Vineyard Wind is breaking new ground with the first large-scale offshore wind farms in the waters of the United States.
“Joining the team that’s helping make this project a reality and growing a new US industry is a terrific opportunity.”
Oytan joins Avangrid Renewables from Arup, where he led offshore wind development efforts for the multinational engineering firm.
Previously, he worked for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.