BizMDOSW Wraps Up Meeting with European Offshore Wind Experts

This 3-day gathering of European and American business executives, government officials, technical experts and academics consisted of over 18 separate workshops and 88 speakers. Participants came from the U.S., Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom, and Norway including Dong Energy, Siemens, Vestas, Alstom, Bladt Industries, Blue Water Shipping and A2Sea.

An International and U.S. Business Partnering Session was held to assist local businesses to connect with experienced international firms.

Jay Borkland of Apex Companies, LLC said: “There was more information and networking at this conference than the past three OSW conferences I’ve gone to put together. I am finding the format and the way it’s set up to be very beneficial in terms of encouraging people to team up. I’ve made a number of solid connections. We are going to get the phone calls and meetings and we are actually going to team up and submit proposals together.”

Forum participants heard from US Wind, Inc., the newly selected Maryland Wind Energy Area Developer. U.S. Wind, Inc. expects to begin construction by 2019. US Wind Inc. is investigating the variety of American companies available for subcontracting opportunities as they begin the process of finding local content to meet the MD Offshore Renewable Energy Credits (OREC) requirements.

“Strategic partnerships and contracts are now being negotiated and soft costs are now being spent by companies positioning themselves to be in the supply chain,” says Liz Burdock, Executive Director, BizMDOSW . “The Maryland offshore wind farm is estimated to be $2.5B with $1B projected to be spent locally. We have regulations (the OREC) in place that requests our developer use as many local companies as possible. The Network is trying to engage those companies we believe can offer significant impact on the project and be able to economically benefit–creating jobs here in Maryland,“ says Burdock .