NRG Bluewater Wind
Seeding the offshore wind industry in the United States.
Private Sector
Renewable Energy
About
Council Fire supported NRG Bluewater Wind, a leading developer of offshore wind energy projects, in setting the stage for development on the East Coast of the United States, and the State of Maryland to position itself as a hub for projects being developed in the region.
Problem
When NRG Bluewater Wind sought to develop offshore wind energy on the East Coast of the United States, they faced a landscape devoid of precedent. Unlike Europe, where offshore wind had flourished for decades, the U.S. had no existing offshore wind infrastructure, supportive policies, or established supply chains.
This 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
Stakeholder resistance stemming from misconceptions about environmental and economic impacts
No precedent for financing these capital-intensive projects in U.S. waters
Building an entirely new energy industry required not just technical expertise, but a fundamental transformation of policy landscapes, market structures, and public perceptions.
Solution
Council Fire recognized that establishing offshore wind in the United States required more than technical solutions—it demanded systems-level change connecting energy policy, economic development, environmental protection, and community engagement. We developed an integrated strategy that aligned diverse stakeholders around a shared vision of renewable energy leadership:
Systems Thinking & Strategic Transformation
Mapped the complex ecosystem of regulatory bodies, supply chain components, workforce needs, and infrastructure requirements necessary to create a viable industry
Developed comprehensive 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 with federal regulatory agencies to develop permitting frameworks that balanced development needs with environmental protection
Urgency + Optimism
Framed offshore wind as both an environmental necessity and economic opportunity
Developed compelling 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 leveraging existing port infrastructure
Pioneered stakeholder engagement approaches that turned potential opposition into enthusiastic support
Results
Council Fire's systems-level approach delivered breakthrough outcomes that established the foundation for America's offshore wind industry:
Policy Transformation
Contributed to the successful 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 credits (ORECs) system
Infrastructure Development
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
Stakeholder Revolution
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
Economic & Environmental Impact
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
FAQ
01
What does it really mean to “redefine profit”?
03
What makes Council Fire different?
02
Who do you work with?
04
What does working with you actually look like?
05
How do you help organizations turn big goals into action?
06
How do you define and measure success?
More Works
©2024
NRG Bluewater Wind
Seeding the offshore wind industry in the United States.
Private Sector
Renewable Energy
About
Council Fire supported NRG Bluewater Wind, a leading developer of offshore wind energy projects, in setting the stage for development on the East Coast of the United States, and the State of Maryland to position itself as a hub for projects being developed in the region.
Problem
When NRG Bluewater Wind sought to develop offshore wind energy on the East Coast of the United States, they faced a landscape devoid of precedent. Unlike Europe, where offshore wind had flourished for decades, the U.S. had no existing offshore wind infrastructure, supportive policies, or established supply chains.
This 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
Stakeholder resistance stemming from misconceptions about environmental and economic impacts
No precedent for financing these capital-intensive projects in U.S. waters
Building an entirely new energy industry required not just technical expertise, but a fundamental transformation of policy landscapes, market structures, and public perceptions.
Solution
Council Fire recognized that establishing offshore wind in the United States required more than technical solutions—it demanded systems-level change connecting energy policy, economic development, environmental protection, and community engagement. We developed an integrated strategy that aligned diverse stakeholders around a shared vision of renewable energy leadership:
Systems Thinking & Strategic Transformation
Mapped the complex ecosystem of regulatory bodies, supply chain components, workforce needs, and infrastructure requirements necessary to create a viable industry
Developed comprehensive 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 with federal regulatory agencies to develop permitting frameworks that balanced development needs with environmental protection
Urgency + Optimism
Framed offshore wind as both an environmental necessity and economic opportunity
Developed compelling 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 leveraging existing port infrastructure
Pioneered stakeholder engagement approaches that turned potential opposition into enthusiastic support
Results
Council Fire's systems-level approach delivered breakthrough outcomes that established the foundation for America's offshore wind industry:
Policy Transformation
Contributed to the successful 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 credits (ORECs) system
Infrastructure Development
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
Stakeholder Revolution
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
Economic & Environmental Impact
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
FAQ
01
What does it really mean to “redefine profit”?
03
What makes Council Fire different?
02
Who do you work with?
04
What does working with you actually look like?
05
How do you help organizations turn big goals into action?
06
How do you define and measure success?
More Works
©2024
NRG Bluewater Wind
Seeding the offshore wind industry in the United States.
Private Sector
Renewable Energy
About
Council Fire supported NRG Bluewater Wind, a leading developer of offshore wind energy projects, in setting the stage for development on the East Coast of the United States, and the State of Maryland to position itself as a hub for projects being developed in the region.
Problem
When NRG Bluewater Wind sought to develop offshore wind energy on the East Coast of the United States, they faced a landscape devoid of precedent. Unlike Europe, where offshore wind had flourished for decades, the U.S. had no existing offshore wind infrastructure, supportive policies, or established supply chains.
This 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
Stakeholder resistance stemming from misconceptions about environmental and economic impacts
No precedent for financing these capital-intensive projects in U.S. waters
Building an entirely new energy industry required not just technical expertise, but a fundamental transformation of policy landscapes, market structures, and public perceptions.
Solution
Council Fire recognized that establishing offshore wind in the United States required more than technical solutions—it demanded systems-level change connecting energy policy, economic development, environmental protection, and community engagement. We developed an integrated strategy that aligned diverse stakeholders around a shared vision of renewable energy leadership:
Systems Thinking & Strategic Transformation
Mapped the complex ecosystem of regulatory bodies, supply chain components, workforce needs, and infrastructure requirements necessary to create a viable industry
Developed comprehensive 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 with federal regulatory agencies to develop permitting frameworks that balanced development needs with environmental protection
Urgency + Optimism
Framed offshore wind as both an environmental necessity and economic opportunity
Developed compelling 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 leveraging existing port infrastructure
Pioneered stakeholder engagement approaches that turned potential opposition into enthusiastic support
Results
Council Fire's systems-level approach delivered breakthrough outcomes that established the foundation for America's offshore wind industry:
Policy Transformation
Contributed to the successful 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 credits (ORECs) system
Infrastructure Development
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
Stakeholder Revolution
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
Economic & Environmental Impact
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
FAQ
What does it really mean to “redefine profit”?
What makes Council Fire different?
Who do you work with?
What does working with you actually look like?
How do you help organizations turn big goals into action?
How do you define and measure success?
More Works
©2024