Growing a New American Industry

Offshore wind is an opportunity for Delaware businesses

BY BRADY WALKER

DELAWARE TOOK AN IMPORTANT STEP this summer towards joining America’s growing offshore wind economy.

In June, Delaware and 10 other east coast states met at the White House to join the new Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership. The partnership aims to expand the American offshore-wind supply chain in states like Delaware, including manufacturing facilities for offshorewind components, port capabilities, logistics networks to install projects, and workforce development to fill good-paying jobs.

Here’s why this partnership is so critical: The U.S. has set a goal to create 44,000 American offshore wind jobs, power more than 10 million American homes with renewable offshore wind energy, and avoid 78 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution by 2030. Achieving that goal will require a significant ramp up in domestic offshore wind supply chain. The University of Delaware’s Special Initiative on Offshore Wind estimates that offshore wind, a new American industry, represents a $109 billion revenue opportunity for U.S. businesses and workers. These new jobs will include roles in manufacturing, welding, machining, engineering, construction, and operations, among many more.

In 2021 alone, the offshore wind industry committed $2.2 billion in new funding for U.S. supply chains, including nine major American manufacturing facilities that will produce the foundations, towers, cables, and blades of offshore wind turbines.

In New Jersey, for instance, Ørsted has committed $1 billion to create new green jobs and build specialized manufacturing capabilities. In New York, we’re bringing construction and steel manufacturing work to the Albany area to construct advanced foundation components for wind turbines.

As the developer of Skipjack Wind—which will generate enough clean, renewable energy to power nearly 300,000 homes in our region—Ørsted is committed to helping Delaware businesses join this new American industry. Skipjack Wind will create nearly 750 new permanent jobs and thousands more construction jobs in our region. In addition, new offshore wind cable and tower manufacturing facilities made possible by Skipjack Wind’s development will create hundreds—perhaps close to 1,000—of additional new permanent jobs in our region.

We are also planning to enable significant investment in energy infrastructure that benefits Delaware. As we seek to develop Skipjack Wind’s landfall and interconnection infrastructure, we will create new jobs for Delawareans and Delaware businesses. We invite Delaware businesses to register at orstedprocurement.com for potential contracting opportunities with Skipjack Wind, Ørsted’s broader U.S. portfolio and the suppliers that help deliver offshore-wind farms and grid-modernization projects.

As the operator of one out of every three offshore-wind turbines globally, Ørsted will harness its expertise to complete Skipjack Wind’s cable landfall and point of interconnection in a way that utilizes Delaware’s workers and respects local communities.

By joining the new Federal-State Offshore Wind Implementation Partnership, Delaware has positioned its workforce to fully participate in this new American industry. I encourage any Delaware business interested in offshore wind to register on our procurement website or contact us with questions.

Brady Walker is Ørsted’s head of government affairs and policy in Delaware and Maryland.