The Leading Light Wind Newsletter | December 2024 |
In this volume: - Project Updates
- Meet the Team
- LLW in the Community
- In the News
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- Participated in over 300 meetings and events to facilitate open lines of communication with organizations that have an interest in our project to share updates about project progress and support the communities where we work.
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Engaged hundreds of students throughout the region in workforce development and youth STEM education programming, including visiting 20+ classrooms and career fairs, and investing $250,000 in Rowan College’s inaugural Wind Power Ready wind turbine technician training program.
- Coordinated with Offshore Fisheries Liaisons and scout boats to successfully complete our baseline geophysical, geotechnical, and benthic survey programs with zero reported entanglements or damage to fishing gear.
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Advanced coordination with the maritime and fishing industries, including partnering with Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) as a Fisheries Representative, representing 1,800 members across New England, New York and New Jersey.
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Deployed 5 data collection devices in the Leading Light Wind lease area, including a glider in coordination with Rutgers University, to support environmental monitoring. The glider’s sensors captured over 170,000 samples of data, including water temperature, salinity, acoustic signals in the ocean, and more.
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Progressed supply chain investments through a partnership with Hellenic Cables to supply 40 miles of the project’s inter-array cables.
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| Completion of Baseline Surveys |
Last month, we announced the successful completion of Leading Light Wind’s initial baseline site investigation survey work to gather critical data that will play an integral role in the environmentally responsible design and future operations of the project. First beginning in the spring of 2023, survey activities included a range of seafloor studies and avian monitoring. For more information on the survey methods used, the purpose of the data, and the opportunities we had to engage the community during our program, read our full article here.
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Leading Light Wind submits semi-annual progress reports to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) highlighting project progress and stakeholder engagement activities. Read the progress reports here. |
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In each edition of Currents, we introduce members of the Leading Light Wind team. This month, we are excited to spotlight Daniel Runyan, Senior Vice President and Head of Offshore Wind Development at Invenergy.
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Senior Vice President and Head of Offshore Wind Development at Invenergy |
Q: What are the biggest opportunities and challenges in offshore wind that you’ve identified over the last year?
A: Offshore wind is a key solution to meet America's growing electricity needs. By diversifying our energy resources and increasing domestic energy production, we can safeguard our environment and strengthen our economy – and in turn support healthier communities. It’s these opportunities that serve as the driving force behind the work our team does every day.
Drawing on Leading Light Wind’s expertise across environmental permitting, engineering, marine affairs, supply chain development, and community engagement, our team has been able to take on the challenges that have inevitably faced an emerging industry like offshore wind over the last year. We’re also working together with industry stakeholders, community members and local leaders to lay the foundation in establishing a domestic supply chain and workforce, addressing persistent misinformation, and navigating macroeconomic fluctuations.
Continuing to educate communities on the benefits of offshore wind – including expanded energy independence, the creation of good-paying jobs and business opportunities, much needed upgrades to coastal infrastructure, and significant economic investment in communities – will be very important as we head into the new year.
Q: What have your experiences working in the offshore wind industry taught you?
A: Offshore wind projects are a long-term endeavor, spanning decades from development through operations. Given the complexity of large-scale infrastructure projects like offshore wind, progress is not linear, and projects will often encounter both successes and setbacks over time. This year, we are excited to celebrate some of Leading Light Wind’s own project milestones, including the completion of initial baseline surveys and investment in local workforce development programs. Our focus remains steadfast on the long-term viability of our projects and the overall growth of the offshore wind industry.
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| January 2025 February 2025 March 2025 |
Check out some of the highlights from where we’ve been the past few months! |
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Newark School of Data Science classroom visit with Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Center |
In collaboration with the Eastern Mid-Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Training Center, Leading Light Wind presented on offshore wind career pathways and apprenticeship opportunities to students at the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology. |
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New Jersey League of Municipalities Annual Conference | We attended the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Annual Conference to convene with local government officials and professionals throughout the state working to advance shared goals. |
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Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce 39th Annual Golden Osprey Awards Dinner |
We attended the Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce’s 39th Annual Golden Osprey Awards Dinner recognizing the Monmouth and Ocean County business community and the Monmouth County Commissioner Nick DiRocco for his outstanding chamber service. |
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NYSERDA Offshore Wind Open House and Union Apprenticeship Awareness Day |
Our Director of Economic Development, Jeff Lee Romero, attended NYSERDA’s Offshore Wind Open House and Union Apprenticeship Awareness Day in Sunset Park, NJ to connect with individuals interested in union careers and pre-apprenticeships. |
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| Monmouth County Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Day |
Our team was thrilled to volunteer with Monmouth County Habitat for Humanity, where we joined their team to build an accessible ramp for a Monmouth County resident. |
| Brooklyn STEAM Center Classroom Visit |
Leading Light Wind Community Engagement Manager, Sarah Dougherty, visited the Brooklyn STEAM Center to present to students participating in the construction course about offshore wind career pathways. |
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| American Clean Power 2024 Windpower Conference |
We attended the American Clean Power Association (ACP) Offshore WINDPOWER Conference. Invenergy and energyRe were proud to serve as conference sponsors, and our colleagues appreciated the opportunity to convene with industry stakeholders to discuss the progress and work ahead for the offshore wind industry, in the region, and beyond. |
| Waterfront Alliance Heroes of the Harbor |
We were pleased to sponsor another year of the Waterfront Alliance Heroes of the Harbor fundraising event, in honor of those who have contributed to the advancement of the New York and New Jersey harbor, its port, and the metropolitan area. |
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| NJBIA’s 4th Annual Energy Policy Conference |
Our Senior Director of External Engagement, Michael Porto, joined New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) for a panel on the future of offshore wind in New Jersey, updates on current projects, and opportunities to bring offshore wind’s economic, environmental, and health benefits to communities across the Garden State. |
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EarthShare NJ Earth Care Day |
Members of the Leading Light Wind team joined EarthShare NJ at its annual Earth Care Day at Cheesequake State Park where local youth had the opportunity to learn the basics on offshore wind energy and how it can deliver clean power to our communities. |
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In support of the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today issued a Record of Decision identifying environmental measures expected to be applied to future wind energy development of the six lease areas offshore New York and New Jersey in an area known as the New York Bight. ... Read full article |
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The U.S offshore wind energy industry says it needs to fight back against disinformation being spread by opponents of wind farms.
During the first day of a national offshore wind conference Tuesday in New Jersey, which has become ground zero for vocal, well-organized opposition to such projects, numerous industry officials said they are in a difficult battle against deliberate falsehoods.
These include thus far unsubstantiated claims that offshore wind preparation is killing whales along the East Coast. ...
Read full article |
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A new report by a coalition of unions across Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts calls for the states to raise their ambitions for offshore wind.
The region has little space for solar farms or onshore wind turbines, but its productive winds and relatively shallow waters have made it an appealing target for offshore wind development.
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Read full article
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By the end of 2023, there were over half a million jobs in wind, solar, and energy storage in the United States, according to the Department of Energy’s 2024 U.S. Energy and Employment Jobs Report. Jobs within these sectors include design, manufacturing, trade, construction, and operation of energy systems.
Just two states hold one-third of the jobs in clean electricity generation: California and Texas. The rest of the jobs were distributed across the rest of the country in unequal and sometimes unexpected ways.
... Read full article
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Leading Light Wind is an American-led offshore wind project that can deliver 2,400 MW of clean, locally sourced energy to New Jersey – enough to power more than one million Garden State homes. Located over 40 miles off the New Jersey coast, the project is positioned to spur billions in economic development benefits, create thousands of local union jobs, and empower local communities and partners across the region. One of the largest offshore wind projects in the U.S., Leading Light Wind is being developed by two American companies: lead developer Invenergy and co-developer energyRe–partners with a proven track record of responsible development. Learn more at .
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