Offshore Wind Workshop to Be Held in Ocean City, USA

Maryland industrial operations and supply chain leaders will gather in Ocean City from 9:30-11:30am for workshop titled, “Offshore Wind: Opportunities for the Eastern Shore, Ocean City and Maryland’s Maritime Industry”.

The workshop will provide business professionals with the ability to learn more about what Maryland offshore wind energy will mean for their business. The workshop is sponsored by Business Network for Maryland Offshore Wind (BizMDOSW) along with Worcester County Economic Development Office, Maryland Energy Administration and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. Topics at the workshop will include: Overview of the Offshore Wind Farm Development Phases, Getting Ready for Operations and Maintenance (O&M), The State of Maryland’s Vision and Actions, East Coast Offshore Wind Developments and a discussion on how to better position your business to take advantage of this emerging energy market.

“As our State transitions from policy to project, we are working to get Maryland businesses well-prepared to take advantage of every business opportunity created through the development of Maryland’s offshore wind energy farm,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration.

The recently enacted Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013 creates a market for offshore wind and provides the certainty that both a developer and the financial community require to construct an offshore wind project. Operations and maintenance (O&M) are expected to comprise between 25-30 percent of Maryland’s offshore wind farm project costs. These vital operations will require that the majority of the work be staged from local facilities, to provide quick, cost-effective access to the project. Ocean City businesses and other Maryland Eastern Shore companies have a geographical advantage to service the wind farm. The smooth running of power generation and transmission equipment faces complex challenges in a marine environment compared to those faced onshore, and experienced marine companies and operators can develop and execute strategies for maximizing production and maintaining plant safety.

“Maryland is significantly poised to gain substantial economic gains through the development of our state’s offshore wind,” said Liz Burdock, Executive Director of the Business Network for Maryland Offshore Wind. “Operations and maintenance activity accounts for approximately one quarter of the life-time cost of an offshore wind farm, which is a significant amount of money that can be generated into the local economy.”

The workshop will be held on August 16th, 9:30-11:30am at the Ocean City Marlin Club, 9659 Golf Course Road in Ocean City. For more information regarding the event as well as the Network’s other efforts, visit BizMDOSW .

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Press release, August 8, 2013; Image: Siemens