Presenter: Ruth Perry (Shell Renewables and Energy Solutions)

Description:
Offshore wind is one of the most rapidly growing sectors of the global and national Blue Economy.  The United States is anticipated to become one of the largest offshore markets in 2024 with 1.7 million acres under lease with more than 1,500 foundations to be installed as part of achieving national ambition for 30GW capacity by 2030.  Balance of offshore wind development with other ocean users and resources presents unique opportunities for early relationship building and emerging reliance on new science and data programs, including seafloor mapping and characterization.  Offshore wind development in the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf requires extensive seafloor mapping and habitat characterization to support projects' submission of construction and operations plans for federal and state government reviews and approvals.  Best management practices and survey requirements to meet federal statutes and regulations are resulting in high resolution geophysical, geotechnical, and benthic habitat data collection across the U.S. Atlantic, from Massachusetts down to the Carolinas, with future efforts to be conducted in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Pacific in the next three to five years.  Current efforts are underway to build public-private data sharing, integration, and assimilation across industries, federal and state governments, and academic institutions to publicly disseminate mapping and characterization data.  These efforts are leveraging best practices developed by NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research and public policy initiatives, including NOMEC, and Seabed 2030.  This presentation will introduce these efforts and delve into the opportunities emerging between offshore wind industry and public sectors to utilize ocean mapping and characterization data beyond the regulatory process to support regional monitoring and research efforts and advance our collective knowledge of the U.S. EEZ and changes to resources and habitats as the result of changing climate.