Grab a coffee and chat with other attendees after you get checked in.

Opening keynote will be given by a representative from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Offshore wind leases were completed in California in December 2022, and the federal process is underway in Oregon, on track for leasing in late 2024. Momentum is rapidly building in California, and a multifaceted dialogue is underway in Oregon around the state’s approach to leasing and the industry in general. A similar dialogue in Washington is now beginning. The panel will introduce these dynamics and provide additional background to support regional supply chain discussions. Q&A to follow.

Speakers

• Jason Busch, POET – Pacific Northwest perspective
• Adam Stern, Offshore Wind California – California perspective
• Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez, Oceantic Network – broader U.S. perspective

Coffee and refreshments to be served

This introduction to the offshore wind supply chain will include discussion of diversity of port, maritime, manufacturing, service, and technology opportunities. Developing, building, and operating floating offshore wind farms will require major port projects and create opportunities for a wide variety of innovators and manufacturing specialists. Q&A to follow.

Speakers

• Moderator: Joshua Berger, Maritime Blue
• Ruth Heffernan Marsh, DNV – high-level overview of the components of a floating offshore wind farm and the options for manufacturing, installing, and operating them
• Matt Shields, NREL – overview of port requirements, including the variety of different types of ports that will be needed and potential upgrades needed to service the offshore wind market
• Anna Stebbins, Lake Union Dry Dock – discussion of the variety of vessels that will likely be required to serve the West Coast floating offshore wind market and beyond, including which could be designed and/or built in the PNW
• Ben Ackers, Pelastar – technology development dimension relating to OSW, using Glosten’s Pelastar platform as an example of the rapidly evolving state of floating offshore wind equipment, and importance of OSW supply chain continuing to evolve

The Maritime Blue Wind Supply Chain Collaborative (Blue Wind) is a non-regulatory coalition whose mission is to support a collaborative and community benefits approach to the strategic development and activation of Washington’s participation in the West Coast-wide Floating offshore wind (OSW) supply chain.
Using a stakeholder-driven approach of intentional convening and inclusive collaboration, Blue Wind will work to better understand the economic, community, and workforce development opportunity for Washington’s ecosystem to engage in the West Coast OSW supply chain through a regional Blue Economy triple bottom line lens that ensures the supply chain develops in a way that is equitable, sustainable, and profitable.

Speaker

• Cassidy Fisher, Maritime Blue – introduction of Blue Wind, a new initiative that works to create mechanisms to convene relevant parties around ensuring that supply chain development is equitable, sustainable, and profitable

Lunch provided

Advancing floating offshore wind is a priority of the Biden-Harris administration, which recognizes the potential for the U.S. to become a leader in deployment and expertise for this important new renewable energy option. Federal activity in support of floating offshore wind is occurring in a number of ways. Q&A to follow.

Speakers

• Matt Shields, National Renewable Energy Laboratory – overview of the recently published West Coast Port Strategy Study, which examined pathways for deployment of varying levels of offshore wind, and implications for port facilities in all three states
• Genevra Harker-Klimes, U.S. Deptartment of Energy – introduction of FLOWIN prize and other federal investments in OSW. Open invitation for DOE to address any other topics.

The West Coast has much to learn from offshore wind projects and their supply chains that are now entering the construction phase on the East Coast. Pacific Northwest companies are already engaged in assisting these projects. Q&A to follow.

Speakers

• Sloane Perras, Foss Offshore Wind – background on Atlantic region offshore wind development, including the New Bedford, Massachusetts, terminal Foss is opening to support the Vineyard Wind 1 project and beyond
• Ross Tyler, RWE – discussion of RWE's Atlantic activities and provide a perspectice on West Coast floating offshore wind supply chain matters
• Markus Wernli, WSP – insights relating to supply chain and ports from NYSERDA's offshore wind master planning process

Refreshments and networking

The initiation and growth of new industrial activity in the region poses both an enormous opportunity and a risk to vulnerable and disadvantaged communities that have historically been excluded from the prosperity associated with previous waves of industrial growth. Purposefully creating avenues for diverse participation at every level of offshore wind resource development and supply chain is a central objective of the organizers. Many possible models exist to pursue these ends, and our initiatives need to evolve in alignment with frontline communities. Q&A to follow.

Speakers

• Alicia Chapman, Willamette Technical Fabricators – Oregon small business perspective about ambition to participate in specialized manufacturing and barriers that could be addressed to open opportunities as the industry grows
• Alex Strogen, Port of Vancouver – Washington perspective on Port and community engagement in OSW supply chain leaning on perspective gained from active participation in the onshore wind supply chain
• Ranfis Villatoro, BlueGreen Alliance – discussion of manufacturing and building issues
• Sean Farley, ILWU – maritime perspective

Speakers

• Ryan Calkins, Port of Seattle
• Kevin Banister, Simply Blue Group
• Adam Stern, California Offshore Wind

Hors d'oeuvres and cash bar