Developing Regional Trade Agreements Related to Offshore Wind
Location
Agenda
This web conference will focus on how the success of the offshore wind industry in North America will require the development of a supply chain and infrastructure that can bring thousands of jobs and new industries to a region. This webinar will discuss opportunities for regional cooperation and public-private partnerships to facilitate growth of the offshore industry and maximize the related potential for job and industrial growth.
Developers have yet to construct any offshore wind generation facilities in U.S. waters and thus Massachusetts port facilities have yet to stage construction of any offshore wind farms. East Coast ports have no experience in handling, storing and assembling the larger scale offshore wind generation components. Their ability to cost effectively stage offshore wind construction will require both physical improvements and significant problem solving. The focus of the port infrastructure analysis is to determine:
- The required features of a port facility to be considered a staging point for construction of offshore wind generation facilities;
- The difference between traditional port facility features and those required for delivery, storage, and deployment of very large wind farm components;
- The impacts to ports called on by purpose-built installation and component delivery vessels;
- Port facilities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that could be upgraded or expanded to be considered relevant staging points;
- The costs for engineering such upgrades or expansions; and
- The ability of facility improvements to attract wind farm developers, government investment, and ensure a return on investment to the economy.