What changed
Groundwork for an industry that had yet to be developed in the United States.
Landmark Maryland offshore wind legislation, and the nation’s first offshore wind renewable energy credits.
The client
NRG Bluewater Wind is a leading developer of offshore wind energy projects.
Council Fire supported NRG Bluewater Wind in setting the stage for offshore wind development on the East Coast of the United States, and in positioning the State of Maryland as a hub for projects being developed in the region.
The challenge
When NRG Bluewater Wind set out to develop offshore wind on the U.S. East Coast, there was no precedent to follow.
Unlike Europe, where offshore wind had flourished for decades, the U.S. had no offshore wind infrastructure, supportive policies, or established supply chains. That absence created formidable barriers:
- No regulatory framework existed for permitting large-scale offshore renewable energy
- Public and political understanding of offshore wind technology was limited
- Supply chain infrastructure for manufacturing, assembly, and installation was nonexistent
- Misconceptions about environmental and economic impacts fueled stakeholder resistance
- There was no precedent for financing these capital-intensive projects in U.S. waters
Building an entirely new energy industry took more than technical expertise. It took a transformation of policy, market structures, and public perception.
Our approach
Establishing offshore wind in the U.S. demanded systems-level change across energy policy, economic development, environmental protection, and community engagement.
Systems thinking and strategic transformation
- Mapped the ecosystem of regulatory bodies, supply chain components, workforce needs, and infrastructure requirements a viable industry needs
- Developed strategies connecting policy development, stakeholder education, and infrastructure planning
- Created frameworks for positioning Maryland as a regional hub in the emerging offshore wind economy
Radical partnership development
- Facilitated unprecedented collaboration between developers, environmental organizations, labor unions, and government agencies
- Built diverse coalitions supporting offshore wind development, bridging traditional divides between economic and environmental interests
- Engaged federal regulatory agencies to develop permitting frameworks that balanced development needs with environmental protection
Urgency and optimism
- Framed offshore wind as both an environmental necessity and an economic opportunity
- Developed narratives highlighting the job creation potential for port communities
- Connected offshore wind development to broader climate resilience and energy independence goals
Creative leadership
- Designed educational programs introducing elected officials to offshore wind’s potential
- Conceptualized supply chain development strategies built on existing port infrastructure
- Pioneered stakeholder engagement approaches that turned potential opposition into enthusiastic support
The outcome
Our approach helped lay the foundation for America’s offshore wind industry.
Policy
- Contributed to the passage of landmark Maryland legislation creating the framework for offshore wind development
- Helped establish new permitting processes at federal agencies including BOEM, NOAA, and the Army Corps of Engineers
- Assisted in developing the nation’s first offshore wind renewable energy credit (OREC) system
Infrastructure
- Facilitated the repurposing of Baltimore’s industrial port infrastructure to support offshore wind staging and assembly
- Helped identify workforce development needs and training pathways for the emerging industry
- Contributed to supply chain mapping that attracted international wind component manufacturers
Stakeholders
- Transformed offshore wind from an unknown concept to a top priority for leading environmental organizations
- Built broad public support through targeted education and engagement programs
- Developed coalitions that turned potential opposition into advocacy
Economy and environment
- Helped secure federal lease areas for wind development off Maryland’s coast
- Positioned Maryland as an early leader in the U.S. offshore wind industry
- Established the foundation for billions in future investment and thousands of green energy jobs
The people behind the work
Meet the team
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Building a market that doesn’t exist yet?
George Chmael II founded Council Fire and has guided organizations toward three bottom lines for more than 25 years.
George Chmael II