Authors: Brent Courchene & Michael Kinder | mai 24, 2021

The offshore wind industry in the United States is expected to see considerable growth over the next 10 years due to the US rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, through the Biden administration, and ambitious carbon neutral goals set by individual states in the northeast and mid-Atlantic. The Paris Climate Accord is an international agreement signed by most countries to address climate change aims to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. More recently, the Biden administration conducted a Climate Summit, and set a goal of 50% reduction of CO2 emissions in the US by 2030.

Among all low-carbon technology options, accelerated deployment of wind power across the globe when coupled with deep electrification can contribute to more than one-quarter of the total emissions reductions needed (nearly 6.3 gigatons) of carbon dioxide (Gt CO₂) annually in 2050 to meet the Paris Climate Goals (IRENA, 2020).

GettyImages-543194530-min

Integrated and Coordinated National Supply Chain

To contribute to this initiative, the United States will require an integrated and coordinated national supply chain and logistical network approach to transport, store, and deliver the materials, manpower, and equipment necessary to support the construction of offshore wind turbines, particularly around the key ports and coastal communities on the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. This will also entail the need to obtain applicable permits and conduct any required ecological habitat impact studies to support the permitting process.

wind-energy-turbines-optimized

Constructing Offshore Wind Power

The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States, as part of their individual goals to become carbon neutral, have plans to construct more than 10.7 Gigawatt’s (GW) of offshore wind power. Over the next decade, these same states have committed to construct almost 30 GW of offshore wind power. These ambitious goals translate to over 3,000 wind turbine generators, each weighing approximately 600 tons. In addition, each wind turbine generator includes substantial foundation infrastructure including monopile, jacket, and gravity-based technologies that can weigh over 4,000 tons for each wind turbine generator and are almost entirely made of steel. This will require significant manufacturing, assembling, and staging facilities be readily available on the east coast, and road and water transport vehicles, barges, and ships to deliver, construct, and maintain the equipment.

Logistical Obstacles

American manufacturers are constrained by logistical obstacles that include difficulty transporting longer wind blades, highway underpass heights, and the availability of cranes capable of lifting and installing wind turbine components.

While it is unlikely that steel manufacturing will return to the U.S. in a capacity to meet the high demand presented by the offshore wind industry in the coming years, project construction and O&M activities will require warehousing and lay-down spaces for staging and assembly of the wind turbine generator blades, mechanical components, foundations, and associated cabling materials. In addition, further complicating the construction process is the Jones Act, Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 that regulates maritime commerce in US waters requiring all goods transported by water between US ports be carried on US ships, constructed in the US, owned by US citizens, and crewed by US citizens and permanent residents. 

To date, the U.S. has not manufactured vessels, lift barges and ships necessary to construct, operate, and maintain offshore wind turbines and platforms, but that will also need to change, and very soon!

In summary, the key to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states meeting their offshore wind goals is inextricably linked to close and easy access to the materials and parts needed for construction and operations and maintenance. Without significant supply chain, logistical, warehousing and lay-down areas, and re-purposing of the manufacturing, staging and assembly of the components of wind turbines (blades, foundations, platforms, etc.), the reliance on offshore wind to meet carbon neutral goals will be difficult to meet.

S’adapter au
changement

Collaborez avec les praticiens testés de TRC

Contact Us

Partager nos perspectives

Nos praticiens partagent leurs idées et leurs points de vue sur les tendances et les défis qui façonnent le marché.

Airport-Electrification-Image-scaled-min
Aperçus

The Sky’s The Limit for Zero Emission Airport Projects

octobre 18, 2024

TRC examine l’environnement opérationnel unique et les meilleures pratiques pour les aéroports alors qu’ils font évoluer la recharge des VE, soutiennent l’électrification côté terre et côté piste et atteignent les objectifs de décarbonisation.

AdobeStock_254888185-1-1-753x502-1
Nouvelles

TRC obtient la qualification du département de l’Énergie des États-Unis (DOE) pour être un fournisseur d’évaluations énergétiques équivalentes des centres d’évaluation industrielle (IAC)

septembre 24, 2024

TRC peut maintenant fournir des audits énergétiques équivalents IAC aux petites et moyennes entreprises de fabrication (SMM), qui peuvent recevoir des subventions allant jusqu’à 300 000 $ pour la mise en œuvre des recommandations de vérification.

01-decarbonization-101
Aperçus

Décarbonisation 101

septembre 5, 2024

Apprenez à intégrer des pratiques de décarbonisation pour réduire votre contribution aux émissions de dioxyde de carbone. Travaillez à la durabilité avec nos solutions.

5089ca38-microsoftteams-image-36
Aperçus

Progresser vers un avenir énergétique propre : une conversation avec Duane Baldwin

août 26, 2024

À la suite de sa discussion sur l’efficacité énergétique, Duane Baldwin, vice-président de l’énergie avancée de TRC, partage maintenant ses idées professionnelles et son engagement personnel envers l’équité énergétique.

image-753x502-1
Aperçus

Gestion des données sur le carbone des services publics

mai 27, 2024

Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer l’épisode 7 du podcast Energy Talks de TRC, où nous nous joignons à des experts des services publics et des fournisseurs de solutions de comptabilisation du carbone pour discuter de la façon dont notre industrie comprend, mesure et travaille à améliorer notre empreinte carbone collective.

NASA-Advanced-Energy-Project
Nouvelles

TRC accepté en tant qu’adopteur précoce des données satellitaires de la NASA

avril 30, 2024

TRC analysera les données de la mission de la NASA pour aider à conserver l’eau potable et l’énergie en identifiant les fuites souterraines.

OR-MEP-TRC-DEI-Banner-4
Aperçus

Habiliter les intervenants à co-créer des solutions qui s’attaquent aux iniquités

avril 23, 2024

Pour s’attaquer aux inégalités et veiller à ce que les avantages de la transition vers l’énergie propre soient accessibles à tous, il faut examiner de près les processus auxquels on s’appuie depuis longtemps et qui peuvent avoir caché des inégalités enracinées en eux.

co2-trees
Aperçus

Monétiser les attributs environnementaux des programmes de décarbonisation des bâtiments

mars 27, 2024

Écoutez l’épisode 6 du podcast Energy Talks de TRC, où nous nous joignons à des experts de l’industrie des marchés de gros de l’énergie et des produits environnementaux pour discuter de la façon dont les services publics et les développeurs de projets valorisent les attributs environnementaux des projets de décarbonisation des bâtiments.

GettyImages-586942404-1
Événements et webinairesVidéos

Rediffusion du webinaire

mars 26, 2024

Écoutez l’épisode 6 du podcast Energy Talks de TRC, où nous nous joignons à des experts de l’industrie des marchés de gros de l’énergie et des produits environnementaux pour discuter de la façon dont les services publics et les développeurs de projets valorisent les attributs environnementaux des projets de décarbonisation des bâtiments. Avec 40% des émissions de gaz à effet de serre provenant des bâtiments, ce secteur est le plus grand levier disponible pour nous de résoudre le changement climatique causé par les émissions. La décarbonisation des bâtiments fait référence à tout processus ou technologie qui réduit les émissions de dioxyde de carbone associées aux bâtiments. Cela comprend l’efficacité énergétique, l’électrification, la flexibilité de la charge et les projets de production d’énergie renouvelable distribuée. Les services publics investissent traditionnellement dans des programmes de décarbonisation des bâtiments pour obtenir des avantages du réseau, y compris une capacité évitée. Mais en parallèle, ces programmes génèrent des avantages environnementaux sous la forme d’émissions de gaz à effet de serre évitées – connues sous le nom d’attributs environnementaux – et peuvent aider à atteindre les objectifs du gouvernement et des entreprises en matière d’énergie propre. Il existe différents types d’attributs environnementaux, qui peuvent être mesurés en compensations de carbone (tonnes d’eCO2) ainsi que des certificats d’attributs énergétiques (CEE), généralement sous la forme de crédits d’énergie renouvelable ou de CER (mesurés en MWh). La valeur de ces avantages environnementaux augmente et devrait s’envoler au cours des prochaines décennies, ce qui fait du coût évité du carbone un intrant de plus en plus important dans l’évaluation de la rentabilité des programmes de décarbonisation des bâtiments. Cette tendance représente un changement de paradigme, offrant la possibilité d’attirer de nouveaux investisseurs importants dans notre industrie au cours des prochaines décennies et d’élargir considérablement les impacts de nos programmes. Beaucoup d’entre nous dans l’industrie se demandent : comment les services publics et les États qui administrent les programmes de décarbonisation des bâtiments évaluent-ils actuellement les attributs environnementaux générés par leurs programmes ?

01-the-impact-of-water-conservation-on-energy-usage
Aperçus

L’impact de la conservation de l’eau sur la consommation d’énergie

février 1, 2024

La conservation de l’eau est essentielle pour réduire la consommation globale d’énergie et l’impact environnemental. Découvrez comment nos services peuvent vous aider à gérer votre conservation de l’eau.

aff952d5-gas-stove
Aperçus

Poêles dans les nouvelles ? Pourquoi certains États réglementent le gaz naturel dans la construction de nouveaux bâtiments

octobre 30, 2023

L’élimination de l’utilisation du gaz naturel dans les nouvelles constructions est une option stratégique qui gagne à la fois du terrain et de la controverse

GettyImages-2152629695-a
Nouvelles

TRC Companies, Inc. selected to participate in Department of Energy (DOE) Multi-State Clean Hydrogen Hub

octobre 13, 2023

TRC received an award for advancing the transition to a clean-hydrogen, low-carbon economy by supporting the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) consortium.

77a363d2-clean-energy-transition
Aperçus

What’s Next for the Clean Energy Transition?

octobre 12, 2023

The need to decarbonize our energy systems is urgent – but to successfully transform this vast market requires cross-sector change at scale.

963520f3-five-common-myths-about-heat-pumps-for-space-heating-and-cooling-systems
Aperçus

Five Common Myths about Heat Pumps for Space Heating and Cooling Systems

septembre 6, 2023

Heat pump technology is still evolving and real challenges exist to widespread market adoption.

c46a7520-empty-high-school-hallway
Nouvelles

Clean Energy Skills Workshops

août 16, 2023

Partnering With Local High Schools to Recruit the Next Generation of Clean Energy Workers.

1389c41c-power-tower

Download Whitepaper: 10 Years of Insights for Clean Community Microgrids

mars 1, 2023

Clean, community microgrids represent a promising and timely opportunity for you to advance your customer offering and deliver meaningful societal benefits, all while modernizing your grid and providing you with load flexibility.

61dcc242-microsoftteams-image-25
Aperçus

Carrots and Sticks for Building Decarbonization: Incentive Programs and Codes & Standards

janvier 11, 2023

Decarbonization of the U.S. building stock presents an enormous opportunity to enhance the quality of our built environment and combat climate change, given that commercial and residential buildings account for over 30% of GHG emissions in the U.S. This critical transition – long underway – has recently been catalyzed by the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which promise to bolster the entire clean energy supply chain, including support for the development and enforcement of building energy codes, as well as the introduction of new consumer incentive programs for electric and high-efficiency equipment. As energy utilities and governmental agencies accelerate energy efficiency and decarbonization initiatives for the communities they serve, they are successfully leveraging two important tool sets: 1) Building efficiency and electrification incentive programs 2) Building energy codes, reach codes and appliance standards. Respectively, these are the carrots and sticks of market transformation toward building decarbonization. Presently, governmental initiatives and organizational commitments to decarbonization are motivating industry practitioners to apply these toolsets more aggressively, to accelerate this transition; as a result, the legacy market interactions between these carrots and sticks are increasingly complex and at times, contested. However, our teams and partners who expertly apply both toolsets – designing and implementing incentive programs and supporting local jurisdictions in advancing their energy codes – believe that they can work together. Contact Us

aaec280c-trc-transportation-electrification-image
Aperçus

Transportation Electrification

novembre 3, 2022

Lessons from TVA’s Non-Road EV (NREV) Program

8ff0b20f-adobestock_social_resilience
Aperçus

The Social Side of Resiliency

août 30, 2022

For community leaders, rebuilding in the wake of disasters creates an opportunity to do more than simply replace homes with the fastest, least-expensive structures.

GettyImages-155069374
Aperçus

Eliminating Overcooling to Make People More Comfortable While Saving Energy

juillet 28, 2022

A significant portion of a building’s energy consumption is wasted through a combination of missing occupant needs and sub-optimal design and operation.

56eb414a-transition-to-renewables-from-hydrocarbons-pylon-and-photovoltaic-panels-1143865401
Vidéos

Webinar Replay: How the DOE and Utilities Can Work Together on IIJA Funding Initiatives

avril 29, 2022

View our webinar replay of our IIJA funding initiatives webinar with Jigar Shah, Director of the Loan Programs Office – US Department of Energy.

8cf53131-electric-suv-of-the-future-charging-electricity-with-public-charger-1126139719
Aperçus

Start Your Batteries: Mass Fleet Electrification is Coming (And What We Can do to Prepare)

avril 13, 2022

As we plan for and make early investments for fleets, we’ll be paving the way for higher degrees of market penetration of passenger vehicles and other modes of transportation as well.

GettyImages-1097452922-scaled
Aperçus

Trailblazing Reach Code Initiatives Drive Decarbonization

mars 7, 2022

Find out how reach code initiatives are driving decarbonization with TRC. Our team offers decarbonization consulting and solutions. Turn To The Experts at TRC!

bd265a05-ae-just-transition
Aperçus

Ensuring a Just Transition: Optimizing Opportunities for All in the Low-Carbon Future

janvier 24, 2022

Carbon elimination of the magnitude needed to address climate change requires systems-level change that can only be reached by incremental, ground-up progress, building upon what we have achieved thus far.

4a2fdd0a-microsoftteams-image-32
Aperçus

Decarbonization: A Systems-Level Challenge and Actions to Address Climate Change

Décembre 7, 2021

Carbon elimination of the magnitude needed to address climate change requires systems-level change that can only be reached by incremental, ground-up progress, building upon what we have achieved thus far.

21ace44f-microsoftteams-image-29
Aperçus

10 Takeaways from the COP26 Climate Meeting

novembre 17, 2021

There are compelling reasons to be optimistic about the outcomes of the COP26 meeting. Notably, agreement among all nations that more needs to be done, by both private and governmental bodies, to contain and mitigate climate change.

d277d0f4-natural-gas-valves
Aperçus

The Price of Natural Gas: Onward and Upward or Just a Temporary Blip?

novembre 12, 2021

Most industry experts agree that weather aside, the global energy and gas markets are likely to remain uncertain with supply and market demand becoming tighter and more challenging to forecast.

solar-power-plant
Aperçus

On the Road to Decarbonization: The Role of All-Source Competitive Solicitations

octobre 14, 2021

All-Source Competitive Solicitations offer utilities an alternative to centralized planning, construction and dispatch of power supplies, helping to usher in a new era of market-driven technology innovation.

8d108047-new-construction
Nouvelles

Pacific Gas and Electric Selects TRC as Program Implementer for New Construction Residential All-Electric and Mixed Fuel Programs

septembre 27, 2021

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) formally announced TRC as the designated lead Program Implementer for the Statewide New Construction (SWNC) Residential All-Electric and Mixed Fuel Programs following a competitive solicitation process.

GettyImages-637533198
Nouvelles

TRC and Slipstream partner with the Minnesota Department of Commerce to launch energy conservation R&D project

juin 24, 2021

TRC, Slipstream, and the University of Minnesota are working with controls system manufacturers and contractors to develop such a standardized and streamlined building control retrofit process leveraging ASHRAE Guideline 36

wind-energy-turbines-optimized
Aperçus

What is Clean Energy: A Discussion of the Future of Clean Energy

juin 21, 2021

Clean energy is a broad term with a fluctuating definition and a complicated lifecycle. We explore the issue, and hope to establish a more productive dialogue about our energy future.

cd43553b-wind-turbines-2000px
Aperçus

Requirements to Growing US Offshore Wind Industry

mai 24, 2021

Growing US Offshore Wind Industry Requires Reshoring of Materials and Supply Chain Optimization

GettyImages-858610288
Nouvelles

TRC Companies Inc. Acquires EMI Consulting

janvier 27, 2021

Today TRC Companies (« TRC”), announces the expansion of its advanced energy capabilities with the acquisition of EMI Consulting (“EMI”), a Seattle based firm that consults on the strategic development of clean energy solutions including energy efficiency, demand management, decarbonization and customer engagement.

GettyImages-177332436-a
Nouvelles

TRC Companies Inc. Expands Environmental and Renewable Energy Capabilities with the Acquisition of Shoener Environmental

Décembre 2, 2020

Today TRC Companies, announces the expansion of its environmental and renewable energy capabilities with the acquisition of Shoener Environmental.

GettyImages-1645947669
Nouvelles

City of Camarillo, California approves moving forward with Hybrid Solar Microgrids at five critical community facilities

novembre 6, 2020

On October 28, the Camarillo City Council unanimously approved moving forward with the design of Hybrid Microgrids at five City facilities: City Hall, the Corporation Yard, Camarillo Public Library, Police Station, and Wastewater Treatment Plant. The microgrid at the Camarillo Public Library will be designed with solar+storage only, while the other four sites will employ a hybrid design of solar+storage+diesel.

1cfbe889-trc-engineers-walking-solar-panels
Nouvelles

TRC Digital partners with Dominion Energy to evolve its distributed energy resource strategy

septembre 22, 2020

Dominion Energy, one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy, has partnered with TRC Digital to evaluate, implement and integrate technology to further the utility’s distributed energy goals. TRC Digital will facilitate Dominion Energy’s strategy development and technology execution, allowing Dominion Energy and its customers to accelerate the shift to distributed energy resources (DER) and net carbon reduction.

d8f114e3-trc-ed-myszka-1
Nouvelles

TRC Companies Welcomes New Power Sector President Ed Myszka

septembre 2, 2020

Myszka brings over 30 years of innovation, market development and operations experience to TRC.

GettyImages-1301715046
Aperçus

Resilient Storage: Pacific Power’s Quest for Behind-the-Meter Solutions

juin 30, 2020

COVID-19 and climate impacts are driving a focus on resilience and utilities are helping customers explore behind-the-meter (BTM) energy storage solutions they might not otherwise pursue.

energy-transformation-comp
Aperçus

Leaning into Energy Transformation

avril 16, 2020

Grid assets have evolved from traditional grid infrastructure to complex, and agile distributed energy systems today.

GettyImages-875297876
Aperçus

Energy Efficiency as a Resource in Southern California

mars 19, 2020

EE as a Resource programs that provide capacity and energy savings to the grid must be dependable and persistent to replace essential power plant capacity.

GettyImages-1254542693
Aperçus

Transforming Commercial New Construction

mars 3, 2020

Commercial buildings today represent about 16% of energy use (30% of electricity) and a key source of GHG emissions across the US.

GettyImages-1368170023-1
Aperçus

Resilient, Distributed Energy as a Vital Public Service

février 26, 2020

Implementing resilient solutions for many means ensuring power supply to critical facilities, emergency response efforts and local authorities during power outages.

624e8e1a-home-electric-car-charging-974185712

Strategic Electrification

février 4, 2020

As we look to spur strategic electrification across the US, it will be up energy providers and solution implementers to continue sharing ideas, insights and lessons learned

trc-helping-california-families-rebuild-after-wildfires

A place called home: Helping California families rebuild after wildfires

novembre 21, 2019

A place called home: Helping California families rebuild after wildfires

GettyImages-585479718
Aperçus

Shaping the Future of Energy Efficiency for Oregon’s Affordable Housing

février 27, 2019

Oregon embarks on a bold initiative to reduce energy costs among low income residents with the help of TRC.

GettyImages-495354625
Aperçus

Tackling the Advanced Energy Frontier with TRC at ACEEE Summer Study

juillet 24, 2018

What will the grid of the future look like? Where are scientists and engineers breaking new ground to push energy efficiency even further? Join TRC at ACEEE Summer Study to find out.

GettyImages-612623042-a
Aperçus

TRC and partners win $1 million grant for engineering innovative New York microgrid

avril 20, 2017

TRC is proud to support Huntington, NY bolster power reliability and climate-change resiliency with a sophisticated new “community microgrid’’ combining solar energy, a fuel cell, biogas and traditional natural gas to deliver electricity and heat to local customers and institutions.

7a2ac974-headshot_courchene-1
Brent Courchene

Brent Courchene is a Senior Project Manager in TRC’s Planning, Permitting and Licensing practice and is responsible for TRC’s presence in the emerging offshore wind market. For over 15 years he has worked on development and management of offshore energy initiatives, ports and harbor development, sediment dredge and disposal programs, heavy marine construction and power generation along the Atlantic coast. His work requires collaboration with diverse teams of engineers, scientists, economists, planners, legal strategists, policy makers and public relations analysts for safe and effective project delivery. He holds a MS degree in Marine Science from the University of Massachusetts and is a Certified Fisheries Professional and Ecologist.

a80b5fb5-michael-kinder-bio-picture
Michael Kinder

Michael Kinder, MBA, a Senior Client Services Manager with TRC, based in our Richmond, VA office, has been providing quality consulting services to a wide range of clients since 1984. He has managed over $100 million in environmental compliance and remediation programs under prime contracts with the Department of Defense and the EPA. Mr. Kinder has also managed system-wide programs for major utilities, retailers, insurance companies, and other private industries, including supporting clients with renewable energy projects.