Learning from the Experts, a webinar series
NYSERDA’s Offshore Wind team is hosting an educational webinar series to connect the public with independent experts in key topics in offshore wind, including wind farm technologies, development practices, regulatory processes, and research initiatives.
To register for upcoming webinars, please visit our Announcements and Events webpage.
Article VII Permitting Process for Offshore Wind
April 28, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
About the Speaker: Bill Flynn, Partner, Harris Beach PLLC
Bill advises businesses and organizations on energy related matters, strategic planning initiatives regarding economic development, state and federal regulatory affairs, and policy decisions. He also advises clients on local, state and federal governmental affairs. Bill is known for his experience in regulatory policies and legislation related to electricity, gas, water, cable television, and telecommunications services. He served as Chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission (NYS PSC) from February 2003 to December 2006. Prior to serving as Chairman of the NYS PSC, he was President of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) where he also served as vice president, treasurer, and secretary to the board of NYSERDA from 1999 to 2003. As NYS PSC Chairman, Bill also served on NYSERDA’s Board of Directors and as Chair of the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment. He is a former board member of the New York State Environmental Board, the New York State Disaster Preparedness Commission, and former co-chairman of the New York Telecommunications Reliability Advisory Council. He was appointed by the chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as vice-chairman of the federal Joint Board on Economic Dispatch for the Northeast Region. He also served as a member of the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners Electricity Committee and chaired the Telecommunications Legislative Task Force.
Offshore Wind Technologies 101
April 7, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
About the Speaker: Walt Musial, Principal Engineer and Offshore Wind Lead, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Walt Musial is a Principal Engineer and leads the offshore wind research platform at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) where he has worked for 32 years. In 2003, he initiated the offshore wind energy research program at NREL which focuses on a wide range of industry needs and critical technology challenges. He chairs the AWEA Offshore Wind Standards Subcommittee and is the Senior Technical Advisor to the National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium. Previously, Walt also developed and ran NREL’s full scale blade and drivetrain testing facilities for 15 years. Earlier, Walt worked as a test engineer for five years in the commercial wind energy industry in California. He studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, specializing in energy conversion with a focus on wind energy engineering. He has over 120 publications and two patents.
Siting and Leasing Offshore Wind Energy Areas
March 24, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording 
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speaker: Luke Feinberg, Energy Program Specialist, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Luke currently works as a Project Coordinator at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the Office of Renewable Energy Programs. His duties include coordination for all renewable activities offshore New York including leasing in the New York Bight, and support for coordination efforts offshore Massachusetts and the Gulf of Maine. Prior to his work at BOEM, Luke worked in the Wind Energy Technologies Office at the Department of Energy and played a key role as a primary author of the interagency 2016 National Offshore Wind Strategy for the Department of Energy and Department of Interior. Before joining the federal service, Luke worked as an environmental consultant in the Boston area directing environmental oversight and remediation of large- scale energy projects.
Luke received a Master’s of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California Santa Barbara and an undergraduate degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. In his free time, he loves to explore the greater Washington DC area with his wife and two sons, cycling, cooking, woodworking, and fishing.
NYSERDA Program Updates
NYSERDA periodically hosts webinars to provide updates on the offshore wind program, NYSERDA-supported offshore wind research, and the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium.
To view past webinar recordings and presentations, please visit our Resource Library.
Educational Videos
The below video links are to external resources (not created by or affiliated with NYSERDA) that provide great overviews of basic offshore wind technologies.