From 25 to 27 October HHWE and Holland Innovation Network in Boston organized a Fact-Finding Mission to the USA to investigate the opportunities for Dutch offshore wind companies especially on the East Coast. GustoMSC, MME Group, MPI-Offshore, Royal IHC, Trelleborg Ridderkerk, VBMS and Ventolines joined the mission.

The first two days the companies participated at the AWEA Offshore Wind Conference and Exhibition on Rhode Island and visited the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal. This terminal will service future offshore wind projects and is managed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. On the last day a round table with several stakeholders like Deepwater Wind, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, National Grid, DONG Energy, MHI-Vestas and Law Firm Verril Dana, was organized at the Wind Technology Testing Center in Boston. Last part of the mission was an explanation by National Grid on their experience connecting Block Island, the first offshore wind farm in the US, to the grid. Law firm Verrill provided a presentation on the Jones Act and other legislative aspects of the offshore wind business in the USA.

Offshore wind is on the move in the USA. Up and down the coasts, states are accelerating the development of offshore wind. In fact, Massachusetts signed into law a comprehensive energy bill that will promote the development of 1600 MW of offshore wind generation in the next 10 years and New York is developing a master plan to promote offshore wind generation as a substantial portion of their 50 percent renewable energy by 2030 target. With significant technical potential along the Atlantic, Pacific and Great Lakes, many experts anticipate strong deployment in the years to come.

Holland Innovation Network in Boston and HHWE will closely monitor the progress of offshore wind developments in the USA. As a follow-up to this mission HHWE will invite offshore wind stakeholders to come to the Netherlands next year.