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May 8, 2024
Despite the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to achieving 30,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind energy production by 2030, the offshore wind industry has struggled to find its footing. Last year was a particularly turbulent one for the industry, marked by project cancellations, rising inflation, and unstable supply chains. Following these setbacks, some experts believe that the Administration’s goal will not be attainable. This year, however, has brought a fresh outpouring of investment and attention from the administration. One result of that increased gust of activity is the Academic Center for Reliability and Resilience of Offshore Wind (ARROW), an $11.9 million investment in the offshore wind workforce that was launched by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Wind Energy Technologies Office in February. ARROW, together with other recent actions from lawmakers and industry alike, signals that the United States is still taking offshore wind seriously.
Offshore wind’s lingering appeal stems in part from the United States’ vast potential for offshore wind production: according to DOE, the country could deploy 86,000 MW in offshore wind energy by 2050. Even reaching the national goal of 30,000 MW by 2030 would suffice to power 10 million homes. Leaning into domestic offshore wind capabilities also furthers U.S. climate goals by reducing the need for carbon dioxide-emitting fossil fuel energy. If the 30x30 goal is met, the country could decrease its carbon dioxide emissions by about 78 million tons.
The ARROW Center comprises research laboratories, stakeholder groups, and universities such as Clemson University, Johns Hopkins University, and, leading the Center, the University of Massachusetts Amherst. As a collaboration of about 40 partners, ARROW aims to increase worker-focused educational opportunities around offshore wind, research atmospheric and ocean conditions and marine ecology to make offshore wind farms as resilient as possible, and kickstart community outreach initiatives to ensure that benefits are evenly distributed and that a diverse domestic wind workforce emerges. With ARROW, DOE hopes to strengthen the reliability, equitability, and affordability of offshore wind energy by strengthening the industry workforce.
The ARROW Center has a three-pronged approach to accomplishing its workforce goals. The first initiative, ARROW-Empower, aims to connect 1,000 students with technical offshore wind education within the next five years. ARROW-Innovatebrings universities and research labs together to study all aspects of the industry, from infrastructure to marine ecology. Finally, ARROW-Engage connects industries with communities to ensure offshore wind is implemented equitably.
Laura Hastings, a Management and Program Analyst with the Department of Energy’s Wind Office, spoke with EESI about the agency’s goals for the ARROW Center. One of the Center’s main priorities is to ensure that the growing offshore wind workforce can meet industry demand. Hastings stated that DOE has continuously found gaps in the workforce— specifically, gaps in specialized experience, education, and training; shortage of applicants, and geographic job location.
“If [the gaps in the workforce] go unaddressed, the workforce will not be prepared as the industry grows,” Hastings said. “Offshore wind is creating a vast array of jobs that require different levels of education.”
By training employees and filling these jobs, the country can reap both economic and energy benefits. Investments like the ARROW Center serve to remedy the divide between project demand and workforce availability.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s offshore wind energy workforce assessment found that reaching the Biden-Harris Administration’s 30,000 MW goal requires an additional 44,000 workers in the offshore wind industry, plus 33,000 more in the communities that would directly benefit from the industry. The largest share of jobs would potentially come from the manufacturing and supply chain industry—specifically, factory workers manufacturing parts for offshore wind turbines and their respective grids. The exact number of these jobs would depend on how much manufacturing occurs domestically. While the industry will require further large-scale investments, the offshore wind supply chain is expected to strengthen over time.
Hastings expressed her excitement about “the deep and thorough partnerships” that ARROW will facilitate with all of the entities involved. DOE has sought partnerships across a diversity of organizations, including higher education institutions, community colleges, tribes, state and local governments, and impacted and underserved communities. For example, ARROW aims to engage communities that neighbor potential offshore wind farms to help ensure that the workforce-related benefits of developing offshore wind are equitably distributed.
“A just energy transition really requires an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Hastings insisted.
Jocelyn Brown-Saracino, DOE’s Offshore Wind Lead, discussed the importance of DOE engaging different stakeholder groups. To best understand how offshore wind can impact communities, the agency supports social science projects that bolster capacity-building initiatives in frontline, fishing, and tribal communities.
Brown-Saracino, alongside her colleagues at DOE, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Commerce, played a role in establishing the Administration’s 30,000 megawatts by 2030 goal. She is optimistic about the progress the United States is going to make in 2024. To address industry challenges such as inflation, Brown-Saracino said DOE is partnering with agencies to see where federal programs can alleviate industry challenges. For example, as Brown-Saracino noted, “DOE’s Loan Program Office has resources to help support offshore wind projects, including for transmission and manufacturing.” Clean energy and supply chain tax credits, some of which are administered through the U.S. Treasury, are also readily available. Like other offshore wind industry leaders, she sees the industry’s challenges subsiding going into 2024.
Brown-Saracino is “very optimistic that offshore wind can be a cornerstone of our economies and our regional clean energy future.”
Author: Kylie Tugend
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