The National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium in the US has assigned its first executive director.
Carrie Cullen Hitt (pictured) will join the consortium on 3 September.
Prior to joining, Cullen Hitt served as president of New Hampshire Transmission and senior director at NextEra Energy Resources, where she managed transmission assets in New York with gross annual revenues of $15m.
Prior to joining NextEra Energy Resources, she was the senior vice president of Solar Energy Industries Association where she was responsible for all state regulatory, legislative and policy measures with issues covering net metering, renewable portfolio standards, and incentive and tax policies.
Chairman of the board Robert Catell said: “The consortium is very fortunate to have Carrie Cullen Hitt accept the position as executive director.
“This leadership position will benefit from her extensive experience, background, and passion for renewable energy and, in particular, offshore wind.”
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority chief executive Alicia Barton said: “We look forward to working with Carrie in her new role as executive director and are excited for the opportunities that lie ahead for the development of the national offshore wind market as the consortium continues to expand its leadership team, including the board of directors.”
The consortium was founded in June 2018 after NYSERDA was awarded $18.5m US Department of Energy (DOE) to lead a nationwide offshore wind technology research and development consortium.
In addition, GE Renewable Energy has joined the consortium’s board of directors as a private sponsor member.
Catell said GE brings a “tremendous wealth of experience in the offshore wind field” and further reinforces the consortium’s role as the ‘go to’ place in the US offshore wind industry.”