NRG Bluewater Wind

Given the historical absence of offshore wind in the United States, successful creation of a new industry on the East Coast demanded design and implementation of a full scale and extensive policy and programmatic infrastructure, comprehensive stakeholder education, and building a broad-based, supportive constituency to enable construction of these large infrastructure projects.

In close collaboration with NRG Bluewater Wind, Council Fire worked to:

• Develop a comprehensive strategy to introduce and facilitate the advancement of offshore wind on the East Coast.

• Introduce elected officials to the concept of offshore wind as a viable renewable energy source and identify the legislative actions necessary to foster approval and investment.

• Research and review activities relating to enhancing the economic, environmental and social benefits of offshore wind generally and at specific locations.

• Advise on the design and continued implementation of a stakeholder engagement program to build a supportive constituency including national environmental groups, federal elected officials, and federal regulatory agencies related to general education, public policy, and permitting issues.

• Assist Bluewater in its interactions with regulatory agencies related to project permitting issues.

In close collaboration with the State of Maryland Energy Administration, Council Fire worked to:

• Develop a comprehensive strategy to position Maryland as a hub for offshore wind development on the eastern seaboard.

• Research and identify infrastructure, technologies, skills and the workforce needed to support development of offshore wind.

• Seed discussions regarding development of an industry association to support offshore wind development on the eastern seaboard.

• Passage of Maryland state legislation to enable and support offshore wind development.

• Comprehensive education of national, regional and local environmental and economic-focused public interest organizations regarding the benefits of offshore wind.

• Emergence of offshore wind as a top priority for leading public interest groups.

• Issuance of federal leases for the development of an offshore wind project off the coast of Maryland.

• Development of port infrastructure in Baltimore to support the staging of offshore wind equipment prior to at-sea installation.