Offshore Wind Policy and Regulations

The Offshore Wind Policy and Regulations Course is a one day crash course providing a detailed exploration of offshore wind energy history, policy and regulatory frameworks. 

Looking primarily at leading offshore wind markets in the USA, this course is designed to offer a thorough understanding of the intricacies within the rapidly evolving offshore wind industry. Comparative analysis and insights from global market designs and policy approaches will be leveraged to identify and understand the wide array of tools available for policy makers and to discuss opportunities and challenges of domestic market evolution. 

The course is instructed by a team of esteemed experts with extensive experience in various aspects of offshore wind and clean energy policy. It is tailored to equip participants with the knowledge necessary to navigate the challenges and opportunities within this industry.

By enrolling in this course, individuals can gain valuable insights and enhance their expertise in offshore wind, which can significantly enhance their careers in this growing sector.

Who Should Attend: 

- Government and Policy Professionals who are involved in shaping and enforcing offshore wind regulations.

- Legal Experts: Attorneys specializing in offshore wind laws, contracts, and environmental matters.

- Industry Practitioners: Professionals within offshore wind companies and associations dealing with regulatory aspects.

- Academics and Consultants: Experts providing consulting services and researchers in renewable energy policies.

- Financial Analysts and Investors: Individuals evaluating the financial aspects of offshore wind projects, including incentives, subsidies, and investment opportunities.

- Environmental and Conservation Advocates: Organizations and individuals interested in offshore wind policy to address environmental concerns and conservation goals.

Course Outline

1- Introduction to offshore wind energy through the lens of policy and regulatory frameworks: Delineation of generation, transmission, distribution, procurement, planning and permitting, etc. assets and activities.

2- Overview of renewable energy policy history and contours of leading state and federal clean energy frameworks:

Topics will include the deregulation of utilities and prominence of competitive market regimes, legislation, regulatory roles and tariffs, Renewable Portfolio and Clean Energy Standards, targets, etc..

3- Identification of key players and their respective roles informing policy design and priorities: Including Federal and state agencies, grid operators, developers (generation, transmission), supply chain and port actors (Marshaling and Assembly, Operations and Maintenance, OEMs, Tier 1/2/3 suppliers, raw materials), and roles of Tribes and stakeholders (labor, environmental justice, commercial and recreational fishing, eNGOs, coastal communities). 

4- Federal, State, and local planning and regulatory regimes and their intersections:

Overview of Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) seabed leasing processes on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), transmission pathways and corridors (offshore and onshore), port infrastructure and supply chain investments, and community benefits planning.

5- Offshore wind and renewable energy offtake designs:

Energy, capacity, renewable energy credits, corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs), market indices, etc.) and value stacking). Distinctions between levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), offtake price, and value of resource to markets (complementarity with demand profiles and demand growth forecasting in the clean energy transition (ELCC); fossil fuel volatility and hedging; importance of location including grid benefits, clean energy transition dynamics, and environmental justice).

6- Transmission deepdive: Policy updates and ongoing reform.

Role of the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC), Department of Energy, RTOs and ISOs,and influence on project design, development risk, grid operation, project pricing and electricity consumer rate impacts. 

7- Procurement modalities and solicitation processes:

Radial and generation/transmission hybrid models; risk sharing and contractual overlaps; bidding, bid evaluation, and awards processes; ports and supply chain investments; cost-recovery mechanisms, etc..

8- Technological and commercial evolutions:

Trajectories in energy policy and offshore wind procurements and resource cost (fixed bottom, floating, supply chains, finance, tax-equity).

Course Instructors:

Adrienne Downey

Principal Engineer and Country Manager, Hexicon

Adrienne Downey is the Principal Engineer and Country Manager for Hexicon North America. Adrienne most recently was the Principal Engineer for offshore wind for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). During her tenure, Adrienne led NYSERDA’s nation-leading offshore wind program with the goal of reaching 9 gigawatts by 2035, and successfully procured an excess of 4.1 GW and associated port infrastreucture: a total porfolio valued at over $22B USD.

Adrienne holds a degree in Chemical Engineer from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and a Masters in Sustainable Environmental Systems from the Pratt Institute in New York City. She holds numerous Board seats in support of the offshore wind industryincluding the National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium (NOWRDC), Offshore Wind California (OWC), Board Member of Marine Renewables Canada, and Advisory Board Member of the American Offshore Wind Academy.

Theodore Paradise

Energy Partner, K&L Gates

Theodore Paradise is a Partner in the Energy, infrastructure, and Resources practice at the global law firm of K&L Gates in the Boston, New York City, and Washington, DC offices. He has over 23 years of experience in the energy industry both in private practice and as the Chief Legal and Policy Officer for a European floating offshore wind developer, and as the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer and Counsel for of a US-based developer of subsea transmission for offshore wind.  Theodore was also in charge of transmission planning and system operations regulatory issues for a US grid operator.  Theodore has a deep understanding of US regulatory law, and has represented clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, in state public utility commission proceedings, and before the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Department of Energy.  He has worked with clients on project RFP strategy and submissions on the east and west coasts of the US.  Theodore has also been a leading policy voice on transmission for offshore wind and other renewables, educating law makers, legislators, and leading industry discussions on ways to address this industry challenge and steps that can help both scale and derisk project development, as well as participating in technical study groups.  He holds his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC.  

The course outline is subject to change and a detailed agenda will be shared after enrollment.