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.
Vessel Types
May 11, 2022
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Register Here 
About the Speaker: Noé Rouxel, Project Manager – DNV Offshore Wind North America
Noé is a project manager at DNV Offshore Wind North America. With a background in Naval Architecture, Noé has 11 years of experience in the offshore wind industry, and specializes on the design, construction, and installation of offshore structures. Noé started at SBM Offshore, working on the design and construction of floating oil and gas platforms. Since 2016, Noé has been immersed in offshore wind development starting with the design and development of floating offshore wind platforms. In 2017 he moved to Chantiers de l’Atlantique, where he led the offshore operations and commissioning for the installation of Offshore Electrical Substations in the Baltic and North Seas. Since joining DNV in 2019, Noé has been supporting the development of multiple offshore wind projects on both the East and West coast.
Workforce Development
May 25, 2022
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Register Here
About the Speaker: Philip Jordan, Vice-President of BW Research Partnership and Senior Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government -- Harvard University
Philip Jordan is the Vice-President of BW Research Partnership, leading the firms’ Massachusetts office. His work focuses on the impact of talent on economic prosperity and sustainable communities, and his personal passion is developing solutions that provide expanded opportunities for the most underserved populations. Mr. Jordan is a Senior Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University where he focuses on talent development in the age of globalization and automation.
Mr. Jordan has extensive experience studying the innovation economy, in particular, energy and ICT. He has authored dozens of reports including The United States Energy and Employment Report (USEER), The Solar Foundation's annual Solar Jobs Census, American Clean Power’s Labor Supply Study, the Natural Resource Defense Council's American Wind Farms Report, solar and wind labor Market analyses for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and numerous local reports for workforce boards, community colleges, and municipalities. Phil has worked in private industry, academia, and government, including the California Community Colleges, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the United States Senate. He lives and works in Wrentham, Massachusetts.
New York and Regional Offshore Wind Transmission Planning
March 30, 2022
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
About the Speaker: Johannes (Hannes) Pfeifenberger, Principle, The Brattle Group
Hannes is an economist with a background in electrical engineering and over twenty-five years of experience in wholesale power market design, renewable energy, electricity storage, and transmission. He also is a Senior Fellow at Boston University’s Institute of Sustainable Energy (BU-ISE), a Visiting Scholar at MIT’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research (CEEPR), and serves as an advisor to research initiatives by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s (LBNL’s) Energy Analysis and Environmental Impacts Division and the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Grid Modernization Lab Consortium.
Hannes received an M.A. in Economics and Finance from Brandeis University’s International Business School and an M.S. and B.S. (“Diplom Ingenieur”) in Power Engineering and Energy Economics from the University of Technology in Vienna, Austria.
Research Priorities for Offshore Wind
March 2, 2022
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
About the Speaker: Carrie Cullen Hitt, Executive Director- National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium
Carrie is the Executive Director of the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium, dedicated to the advancement of offshore wind in the US. With base funding of $41million from DOE and NYSERDA. and additional contributions from four states and multiple industry stakeholders, the Consortium advances innovation and technology. Prior to joining the Consortium Carrie was President of New Hampshire Transmission Company, a regulated subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources. She also held several positions in solar and battery storage market development at NextEra Energy Resources. From 2008-2014 Carrie was Senior Vice President of the Solar Energy Industries Association and President of the Solar Alliance. Carrie also served in several management positions market strategy and external affairs at Constellation Energy (now Exelon) from 2000-2008. She also held positions at the Harvard Electricity Policy Group and Green Mountain Energy Resources. Carrie began her career as an analyst for the Joint Energy Committee at the Massachusetts Legislature. She is a graduate of Clark University (BA) and Johns Hopkins University (MA).
A Panel on Nature Based Design Enhancements for Offshore Wind Farms
February 9, 2022
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Panelists:
Carl LoBue, Ocean Program Director- The Nature Conservancy
Carl LoBue is the Ocean Program Director for The Nature Conservancy in NY. Carl and his team focus is on protecting and restoring marine surface water quality and estuarine habitats, improving the sustainability of marine fisheries, and on enabling coexistence of vulnerable and valuable ocean resources with existing and emerging human activities such as offshore energy development. Carl is a member of NYSERDA’s Offshore Wind Environmental Technical Working Group.Captain Dave Monti- No Fluke Fishing LLC
Dave grew up on the water and has been shell fishing, fishing, sailing and power boating all his life. He held a scallop license on Nantucket for 15 years, where he scalloped recreationally during the fall and winter months. Dave holds a masters captain’s license and works as a charter fishing captain that often fishes recreationally around Block Island and in the Block Island Wind Farm area.
Capt. Monti is the fishing columnist for the Providence Journal (the major daily newspaper in RI), The Sun Chronicle daily in Attleboro, MA and writes for ten weekly newspapers. He also is a regular contributor to the Marine Fish Conservation Network blog. Dave writes about the environment, fishing policy, regulations and ocean issues such as spatial planning, offshore wind farm development, climate change impacts of fish and fishing as well as fishing tactics and strategies.
Dave is vice chair of the RI Marine Fisheries Council, serves as 2nd vice president for the RI Saltwater Anglers Association (the largest recreational fishing association in the northeast with over 7,500 affiliated members), is an active member of the Rhode Island Party & Charter Boat Association and is a founding board member of the American Saltwater Guides Association.
Dr. Annie Murphy, Senior Scientist- INSPIRE Environmental Services
Dr. Annie Murphy is an ecosystem ecologist with an interest in the interactions between human activities and energy flow in marine ecosystems. Specifically, her work centers on measuring changes in benthic functioning (e.g., biogeochemical cycling) in response to human disturbance such as shellfish aquaculture, offshore wind development, and coastal nutrient and organic inputs. Annie is a senior scientist at INSPIRE Environmental, a science-based consulting company focused on the use of sediment profile imaging and underwater video to characterize benthic ecosystems. Annie earned her doctoral degree at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary where her research explored the effects of shellfish aquaculture (clams and oysters) on sediment carbon and nitrogen cycling in coastal embayments in Virginia and Italy. Annie then worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Northeastern University where she used molecular techniques to study the influence of nutrient inputs to salt marsh habitats on microbial community composition and biogeochemical cycling. More recently she has been involved in developing monitoring programs using non-invasive underwater imagery technologies to monitor the biological growth on offshore wind turbines and the subsequent organic enrichment in the sediments surrounding these novel structures.
Dr. Andrew Rella, Director of Industry Development- ECOncrete
Dr. Andrew Rella is a Coastal and Environmental Engineer specializing in nature inclusive design of shoreline stabilization and flood protection measures, with ten years’ experience in the design, permitting and construction of natural and nature-based features within coastal and marine infrastructure schemes. Currently serving as the Technical Director of Business Development for ECOncrete Inc. (www.econcretetech.com), a company offering innovative ecological solutions for concrete based coastal, marine and offshore infrastructure. Previously, Andrew worked as a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at Stevens Institute of Technology where his experience included being a member of the Coordinating Team of the Hudson River Sustainable Shorelines Project, consulting with the NJ USACE and American Littoral Society, developing workshops for the Departments of Remediation and Environmental Protection, as well as co-authoring the NJDEP Living Shorelines Engineering Guidelines. Andrew is also currently working with the New York City Economic Develop Corporation to develop oyster encasement technologies for enhancing marine piles. Andrew has a Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering from the Center of Maritime Systems at Stevens Institute. He holds a B.E. in Environmental Engineering and a M.E. in Ocean Engineering, with a concentration in Coastal EngineeringPort Development Considerations for Offshore Wind
January 12, 2022
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speaker: Brent D. Cooper, P.E., Project Manager- COWI
Brent D. Cooper, P.E., is a Project Manager with COWI. Brent has over 14 years' experience providing engineering solutions to offshore wind and marine terminal infrastructure projects, especially as they relate to the design of wind turbine foundations, substation foundations, and fabrication and staging port facilities. Brent is responsible for business development and project delivery to a diverse range of clients, including Federal and state agencies, utilities, as well as private and commercial clients. As a project manager, Brent manages a technically and geographically diverse team of subject matter experts within the U.S. and across the global COWI organization. Brent and his team provide services through the full Lifecyle of a project, including planning, analysis, engineering, construction, structural condition monitoring and assessment, rehabilitation, and decommissioning.
A Panel on Offshore Wind Economic Benefits
November 10, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Panelists:
Nse Esema, Assistant Vice President, Smart & Sustainable Cities- New York City Economic Development Corporation
Nse Esema is currently the Assistant Vice President, Smart & Sustainable Cities at the New York City Economic Development Corporation. She designs and implements programmatic and strategic efforts to: catalyze emerging sectors, develop inclusive industry ecosystems, and advance equitable economic development. Currently, her work is heavily focused on the Offshore Wind industry. She is committed to designing and implementing strategies that support NYC in growing into a leading position in the burgeoning OSW landscape in the US in a manner that ensures women, low-income populations and people of color equitably share in the benefits of the industry.
Prior to NYCEDC, Nse worked with city governments in Africa and North America in developing and implementing multi-stakeholder resilience building strategies. Nse Esema earned a Masters in City Planning degree from MIT.
Mariah Dignan, Long Island Lead-Climate Jobs New York
Mariah Dignan serves as the Long Island Lead for Climate Jobs New York (CJNY) and is a member of Wind Works Long Island, a coalition of environmental, labor, clergy, and community groups, and the force behind educating Long Islanders on the benefits of renewable energy, particularly offshore wind. Mariah also serves on the Long Island Chapter Board of the New York League of Conservation Voters.
Mariah has experience in local politics as a campaign field organizer for Congresswoman Kathleen Rice and scheduler for then-candidate Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. She also worked as a Political Organizer for The Long Island Federation of Labor and served as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Congressman Thomas R. Suozzi.
Katie Newcombe, Chief Economic Development Officer- Center for Economic Growth
Katie has more than a decade of economic development experience, spanning multiple states, public, private, and non-profit sectors. She currently leads CEG’s business attraction and expansion activities; directs and implements strategies for entrepreneurship, business growth, workforce, and talent. In her most recent role, as Senior Economic Developer, she led business attraction and expansion initiatives for National Grid in the Capital Region. In addition to helping develop statewide strategic, policy and program objectives, she generated a significant portfolio of grant projects that helped revitalize the region’s downtowns and grow its economy. At Capitalize Albany Corporation, she helped manage business development efforts and Downtown Albany’s Revitalization Plan. David Whipple, Director of Industry Development- Empire State Development
David Whipple is the Director of Industry Development at Empire State Development, the economic development arm of the New York State government. David leads Empire State Development’s efforts in creating jobs and attracting investment in the renewable energy and clean tech sectors. He works closely with partners including NY-BEST, NYSERDA, NYPA, NY Green Bank, NYSTAR, industrial property owners, local IDAs, and local utilities. Together with these partners, David helps renewable energy businesses establish manufacturing operations in New York State. David has been very involved with initiatives relating to New York’s Climate Leadership Community Protection Act (CLCPA) including offshore wind, energy storage, solar and workforce development.How Does an Offshore Wind Supply Chain Work?
October 27, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speakers:
Jamie MacDonald, Director of Operations- Renewables, Xodus
As part of the renewable’s leadership team at Xodus Jamie is responsible for helping shape and grow the US business in terms of technical strength, commercial performance and brand awareness. Jamie has a strong track record of managing large projects across the offshore energy industry. With a marine and offshore construction background, including supervising contractors during operations, he is well versed in how to deliver marine construction projects from pre-feasibility through execution and into operation.Jeff Tingley, Head of Strategy and Market Development, Xodus
Jeff Tingley is the Head of Strategy and Market Development in the Xodus Boston Hub. He has extensive experience in supply chain development for offshore wind and other renewable energy sources. He has completed and managed an extensive list of supply chain development analysis for various regions in the US providing supply chain strengths and gap analysis and ascertaining the areas strengths by evaluating adjacent industries. He also has helped large OEM and tier 1 companies establish operations in the US in support of the country's growing offshore wind sector.Offshore Wind Resource Modeling
Wednesday, October 20
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speakers:
Josiah Mault, Offshore Energy Assessment Lead, DNVGL
Josiah is a Senior Team Leader and Offshore Energy Assessment Lead managing a team of analysts performing wind resource and energy analyses in support of pre- and post-construction wind projects for development and financing. Since joining DNV in 2008 he has supported over 50 GW of wind projects, including 8 GW of offshore wind projects. These projects have included the analysis and utilization of a vast array of data including onshore and offshore met masts, SODAR, land-based and floating LiDAR systems, mesoscale simulations, and other meteorological data. In addition, Mr. Mault has supported DNV’s advanced CFD based wind flow modeling for energy assessments and research of turbine performance related to atmospheric conditions. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Washington.Jeffrey M. Freedman, Ph.D., Research Associate, Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC) at University of Albany, State University of New York
Dr. Jeffrey M. Freedman is currently a Research Associate at the University at Albany, State University of New York’s Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (ASRC). As part of the Boundary Layer and Renewable Energy groups at ASRC, his main research focus is on renewable energy and atmospheric boundary layer processes. This includes work on improving wind and solar power production forecasting, investigating the effects of climate change on renewable energy distribution, developing outage prediction models for utilities, and developing instrumentation for offshore wind resource assessment and forecasting. Prior to his joining the faculty at ASRC, he was Lead Research Scientist at AWS Truepower (now a part of UL Renewables), a renewable energy consulting firm.
Previously, Dr. Freedman was the lead Principal Investigator on the first Wind Forecasting Improvement Project (WFIP), a two-year Department of Energy/National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration sponsored study to demonstrate the value of additional atmospheric observations and model enhancements on wind energy production forecasts, and led the development of the Solar Wind Integrated Forecast Tool (SWIFT), a state-of-the-art forecasting service for Hawaii’s electric utilities.
Dr. Freedman earned his PhD at UAlbany’s Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences and ASRC. Previously, Dr. Freedman was an Assistant Counsel with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection where he played a key role in development and enforcement of the City’s rules and regulations for the protection of its water supply. In 2000, Dr. Freedman founded two consulting firms: Atmospheric Information Services (AIS) and EnviroLaw.
This webinar is part of the Learning from the Experts series hosted by NYSERDA’s Offshore Wind Team and featuring experts in key offshore wind topics, including wind farm technologies, development practices, regulatory processes, and research initiatives.
Regional Collaboration on Wildlife & Fisheries Research
September 15, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speakers:
Emily Shumchenia, Director, Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC)
Emily Shumchenia is the Director of the Regional Wildlife Science Entity (RWSE). RWSE is a research collaborative hosted by the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC), Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO), and Coastal States Stewardship Foundation that includes federal agencies, states, offshore wind developers and lease holders, and non-governmental organizations with the common priorities of sharing information, standardizing data collection and monitoring protocols, defining key scientific research needs, and amplifying the results of existing and ongoing research related to offshore wind and wildlife. Emily has worked with NROC since 2014 as an ocean data scientist responsible for engagement around data development and use in decision-making with agencies, industry, the research community, and other stakeholders. Emily holds a Ph.D. in oceanography from the University of Rhode Island.Lyndie Hice-Dunton, Ph.D., Executive Director, Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA)
Lyndie Hice-Dunton is the Executive Director of the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA). ROSA is a partnership formed by fishermen and offshore wind leaders, in collaboration with US federal and state management experts to enhance scientific understanding necessary to support the coexistence of wind energy development and sustainable fisheries. Dr. Hice-Dunton is a fisheries scientist with a multidisciplinary background in marine science, environmental policy, and offshore development. Lyndie’s offshore wind efforts have allowed her to work closely with state and federal regulatory agencies, fishing industry representatives, and offshore wind developers to identify best science-based approaches that improve our understanding of the effects of wind energy development on fisheries and ecosystems.Environmental Considerations for Fixed Offshore Wind Foundation Technologies
September 1, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speaker: Drew Carey, Co-founder and CEO, INSPIRE Environmental
Drew is a recognized expert in the assessment of environmental impacts on marine ecosystems and has led offshore wind studies since 2009. He received his PhD from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland and specializes in benthic ecology, sedimentology, fisheries monitoring, and marine policy. He has extensive experience in benthic site characterization, preparation of Construction and Operation Plans and monitoring for offshore wind energy projects. He is currently leading marine assessments (EFH, fisheries, benthic, lobster, geological) for the Block Island, South Fork, Sunrise, Skipjack, Ocean Wind and Revolution Wind Farms for Orsted USA Offshore Wind Energy. Drew has been engaged in development of marine technology and innovative applications of data visualization throughout his career.
Offshore Wind COP Review Process
August 11, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speakers:
Michelle Morin, Chief of Environment Branch for Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Michelle has been with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for 26 years and has coordinated dozens of environmental impact statements and assessments for BOEM's oil and gas and renewable energy programs in Headquarters and the Gulf of Mexico Region. As the Chief of BOEM's Environment Branch for Renewable Energy, she manages an interdisciplinary team responsible for environmental assessments, consultations, and studies related to renewable energy leasing and development on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.Jessica Stromberg, Project Coordinator, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
Jessica has been working in the Office of Renewable Energy Programs (OREP) at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) since 2009. She has extensive experience managing the leasing and development process for projects proposed offshore the New England coast. Starting in August 2021, Jessica will be participating in a 4-month detail as the Acting Chief of the Engineering and Technical Review Branch in OREP, where she will manage an interdisciplinary team responsible for reviewing submitted plans and reports to ensure construction and operational design parameters for any proposed facilities adhere to accepted engineering practices and industry standards, performing analyses for vessel navigation, metocean, geophysical and geological information needs, and providing input on areas for technology assessment and research.Offshore Wind Stakeholder Engagement
July 28, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speaker: Kris Ohleth, Director, Special Initiative on Offshore Wind
Kris Ohleth has worked in the offshore wind industry for over 15 years, since the days of the industry’s inception in the U.S. Holding senior positions with offshore wind developers, non-governmental organizations, and state agencies, she has gained critical insights into the policy and regulations that shape offshore wind activities at the state, regional, and federal levels. Kris has extensive experience working with offshore wind stakeholders and has expert knowledge of such engagements, having worked on offshore wind and ocean policy issues for nearly two decades.
In her current role as the Director of the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind, she leads the organization to develop strategies to support the responsible and sustainable development of the offshore wind industry. Originally from New Jersey, she is a Rutgers graduate, has a Master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island, and currently lives in Morris County, New Jersey with her husband and retired-racing greyhounds.
Offshore Wind Resiliency Planning
July 7, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speakers:
Neil Weisenfeld, Senior Energy Resilience Expert, ICF
Neil focuses on corporate strategy and long-range planning, energy resilience, grid modernization, asset management, and regulatory and policy engagements. With over 35 years in the industry, Neil previously worked as Director of Strategic Planning for Con Edison of New York. In his current role, Neil assesses vulnerabilities and manages risks to energy infrastructure presented by a fast-changing climate and extreme weather conditions, both in the U.S. and abroad. He translates climate science into practical information for decision-makers, conducts risk assessments for assets and operations, analyzes costs and benefits of resilience actions, and supports long-term planning for climate adaptation and resilience.Garrett Moran, Wind Generation Senior Manager, ICF
Garrett Moran is a licensed professional engineer who specializes in wind turbine technology, turbine design, and loads and controls. Garrett has 17+ years industry experience with a career in loads and dynamics and structural dynamics spanning the wind, aerospace, and oil and gas industries. He has worked for multiple international wind turbine OEMs, on the Space Shuttle contract for Boeing for NASA, and with deep sea offshore oil & gas risers. Garrett has provided technical due diligence and financing support for nearly 5GW of globally-installed wind capacity.The Science of Visibility
June 23, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speakers:
Gordon Perkins, Visualization Practice Leader, Environmental Design & Research
Gordon is a Division Manager, Visualization, with 20 years of professional experience. Gordon is one of the leading expert consultants in visualization and visual impact assessment in the Northeast and has managed and/or served as lead technical specialist on visual impact assessments for multiple offshore wind projects reviewed by BOEM as well as for onshore wind, solar, and transmission facilities reviewed under applicable federal and state permitting laws and regulations.Kiva VanDerGeest, Visualization Project Manager, Environmental Design & Research
Kiva is a Visualization Project Manager with over six years of professional experience in planning, design, geographic information systems, and visual impact assessments. Kiva has assisted in the development of visual impact assessments for energy projects including onshore and offshore wind, solar, highway, and transmission facilities.Digital Aerial Surveys to Inform Offshore Wind Development
June 9, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speaker: Julia Robinson Willmott, Senior Principal Scientist and Group Manager, Normandeau Associates, Inc.
Julia has over 30 years of experience in 23 different countries assessing both offshore and onshore ecological impacts of anthropogenic and natural stressors on birds and other taxa. As Group Manager at Normandeau Associates, she works directly with Normandeau’s technology team to design, test, and deploy innovative technology systems for remote monitoring of wildlife. Julia has been project manager and technical director on over 100 aerial digital projects including state and federal efforts in support of offshore wind energy in New York State waters and offshore North Carolina and South Carolina. Her knowledge and understanding of species presence, abundance, and relative sensitivity to anthropogenic stressors based on experience across two continents helps inform study design and effectively target resources. She is principal author of “The relative vulnerability of migratory bird species to offshore wind energy projects on the Atlantic outer continental shelf”, and she has described a new subspecies of Zoothera thrush.
Offshore Wind Submarine Cabling
May 26, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speaker: Duncan Sokolowski, Senior Submarine Cable Project Manager, Tetra Tech
Offshore Wind Transmission Systems
May 12, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
About the Speaker: Johannes (Hannes) Pfeifenberger, Principle, The Brattle Group
Hannes is an economist with a background in electrical engineering and over twenty-five years of experience in wholesale power market design, renewable energy, electricity storage, and transmission. He also is a Senior Fellow at Boston University’s Institute of Sustainable Energy (BU-ISE), a Visiting Scholar at MIT’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research (CEEPR), and serves as an advisor to research initiatives by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s (LBNL’s) Energy Analysis and Environmental Impacts Division and the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Grid Modernization Lab Consortium.
Hannes received an M.A. in Economics and Finance from Brandeis University’s International Business School and an M.S. and B.S. (“Diplom Ingenieur”) in Power Engineering and Energy Economics from the University of Technology in Vienna, Austria.
Article VII Permitting Process for Offshore Wind
April 28, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
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 Technology 101
April 7, 2021
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Full Recording
Presentation Slides [PDF]
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.
- How Offshore Wind Farms Work (Ørsted)
- Time-lapse installation of turbine at Vattenfall’s EOWDC wind farm (Vattenfall UK)
- Offshore Wind Energy (BOEM)
- The Foundation of Wind Turbines - in 60 seconds (DOB Academy)
- Costain Concrete Gravity Foundations - Subsea Animation (Kurodragon)
- Humpback Whales and Floating Offshore Wind Farms (BOEM)
