Abstract 

Offshore wind energy has been a major source of renewable energy in Europe for nearly three decades, however there are no utility-scale offshore wind projects here in the United States.  Meanwhile, the United States boasts some of the most ideal conditions for offshore wind development in the world.  Come and learn more about the status of offshore wind development in the US, and how and why it is currently poised to be at the center of the next energy boom.  Find out more about the technology, geography, financing, environmental issues, and policy that are involved in developing and building an offshore wind farm, and when and where you can expect to see a wind farm off of one of our coasts soon.

(See presentation below "UMass Amherst March 2020" under File Attachments)

 Bio

 Kris Ohleth has worked in the offshore wind industry in the US for nearly 15 years, since the days of the industry’s inception in the States.  As the Director of Permitting and Stakeholder Relations for several offshore wind developers, she has gained critical insights into the regulations that shape offshore wind activities at both the state and federal level. Kris has extensive experience with offshore wind stakeholders in the region and has expert knowledge of ocean planning, having worked on ocean policy issues at all levels, from industry, state, and NGOs perspectives. She is currently Senior Manager of Stakeholder Engagement for the offshore wind developer Ørsted, working across projects in their US portfolio on variety of stakeholder-related issues. Originally from New Jersey, she is a Rutgers graduate, has a Master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island, and currently lives in Morris County, New Jersey with her husband and three retired-racing greyhounds.