Building a sustainable urban future with offshore wind

Offshore wind plays a predominant role in the United States’ clean energy future—the U.S. Department of Energy aims to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030 and set the nation a pathway to 110 GW or more by 2050.¹

Offshore wind development does not only contribute to a cleaner environment but supports economic growth and job creation. As the offshore wind industry and its supply chain grow domestically, both labor and real estate will be essential components for its success. As a result, the activities associated with offshore wind (e.g., research and development (R&D), operations and maintenance (O&M)) need adequate real estate and infrastructure in coastal areas to support this growing industry.  

In order to effectively capitalize on the burgeoning offshore wind industry, cities must strategically plan to leverage the economic opportunities it presents. Based on our experience, the following are key competitive advantages that will make cities and their economies successful to attract offshore wind:  

• Real estate and infrastructure: Valuable port and coastal industrial lands must be reimagined for offshore construction, manufacturing, assembly, and staging. Investing in ports, piers, and staging areas also supports offshore wind farm construction and operation. For example, South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Brooklyn is currently being developed by Equinor as an operation and maintenance facility, preserving and revitalizing the working waterfront.  
• Workforce development: Cities can ensure a just transition to the offshore wind industry by leveraging their talent base and workforce development ecosystem to train and employ individuals for offshore wind careers. In New York City, for example, the industry ensures that 40 percent of job and investment benefits are directed toward women, minorities, and environmental justice communities, promoting inclusivity and fair opportunities. 
• Economic development tools: Incentives, grants, and other funding and financing tools provided at the federal, state, and local levels related to workforce and real estate can help to reduce overall project costs, providing cities a competitive advantage. Incentives may not be specifically for offshore wind development but could be utilized by offshore wind stakeholders (i.e., original equipment manufacturers, marine terminal operators, and offshore wind developers), for example, incentives for industrial development or manufacturing uses. 

Labor and real estate are critical for the growth, sustainability, and economic impact of the offshore wind industry. They contribute to job creation, community development, and the transition to cleaner energy sources. Hatch stands ready to support the offshore wind industry—and coastal cities that are vested in being home to the highly beneficial offshore wind economy—in everything from economic and community development strategies, environmental permitting and approvals, port master planning, HVDC power interconnection, and system studies and integration.  

 

Learn more about the NYCEDC Offshore Wind project here : Offshore Wind Regional Benchmarking Analysis (hatch.com)