Wind Energy – Steel Cutting for SRI
Yesterday the advancement of the U.S. offshore wind supply chain was celebrated by President Biden during a steel-cutting ceremony for the Acadia, the first U.S.-built subsea rock installation vessel (SRI) for offshore wind.
The vessel was ordered by Business Network member Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Corporation (GLDD) and is being constructed at the Philly Shipyard in Pennsylvania.
During the ceremony, President Biden celebrated the $16 billion of investments made during his administration in offshore wind manufacturing, shipbuilding, and ports, noting substantial growth in the supply chain which is now creating jobs in places like Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, and New England.
President Biden acknowledged how the offshore wind industry is helping create a domestic supply chain, saying: “Never bet against America and its innovation.”
GLDD’s investment into the $246 million vessel garnered the company a 2022 Ventus Award for Supply Chain Advancement for the vessel’s new efficiency standards and innovation with its large capacity, accurate placement technology, innovative battery, and alternative fuel system.
“The Biden-Harris administration is helping make offshore wind a reality by bringing certainty to the permitting process, making investments in ports and transmission, and incentivizing domestic manufacturing,” said Business Network for Offshore Wind CEO Liz Burdock. “It was great to be with so many offshore wind leaders today as President Biden recognized the significant milestone this vessel construction represents for the U.S. supply chain, which comes amid a flurry of actions from BOEM in recent weeks to advance projects through the permitting process. The Administration’s actions have contributed significant momentum to our growing industry. Congratulations to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Corporation for this achievement; we look forward to seeing the vessel finish construction and commence operation in 2025.”
At the ceremony, President Biden also announced the Final Sale Notice (FSN) for the Gulf of Mexico setting up an August 2023 auction. See OER post July 20. This will be the first federal lease area auctioned in the Gulf of Mexico and, once developed, could support up to 3.7 GW of offshore wind generation.
Despite having no active lease areas, the Gulf has been a leader in developing the U.S. offshore wind supply chain. The Network reports that 23 percent of contracts in the U.S. market are going to Gulf firms and approximately $1 billion in investments are flowing to Gulf shipyards or fabrication yards.
