Empire Wind Suspended, Canadian Offshore Wind Jobs

The U.S. Interior Department halts the Empire Wind Project due to
environmental concerns, prompting political backlash and legal
considerations. The Offshore Wind Industry Council releases a
framework to better protect marine life, and a new assessment
reveals job opportunities in the Canadian offshore wind energy
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Lightning fast. Allen Hall: The United States Interior Department
has ordered a halt to all activities related to the Empire Wind
Project off the coast of New York. In a director's order dated
April 16th, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management instructed Empire
offshore wind, LLC to suspend ongoing activities. Related to the
Offshore wind project. The stoppage order follows in part feedback
received from the National oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
about environmental concerns. In a July, 2023 assessment, NOAA
determined the project would quote, result in significant adverse
impacts to essential fish habitat federally managed species, the
prey, and other resources, unquote. Noah expressed particular
concerns about the project's overlap with the Clara Bank and
important [00:01:00] ecological area that provides valuable habitat
for numerous fish species. Interior Secretary Doug Burnham stated
The project is being stopped until further review of information
that suggests the Biden administration rushed through its approval
without sufficient analysis unquote. New York Governor Kathy Hoel
has criticized the decision pledging to fight it. Empire Win one is
already employing hundreds of New Yorkers, including 1000 good
paying union jobs as part of a growing sector, unquote. She
characterized the order as quote, federal. Overreach and vowed to
protect union jobs, affordable energy, and New York's economic
future. Equinor, the parent company of Empire Offshore Wind, LLC
announced it would comply with the order and suspend offshore
construction, but is engaging with the relevant authorities to
clarify the matter and is considering legal remedies including
appealing the [00:02:00] order unquote. The Empire Wind Project
Construction included up to 147 wind turbine generators with a
substantial submarine cable network connecting the turbines to the
mainland electric grid in New York. The Offshore Wind Industry
Council has published a framework report to help offshore wind
industries better coordinate underwater noise management, various
seabed activities, including surveys, turbine installation, and
unexploded ordinance clearance need improved coordination to
protect marine wildlife. Conservation measures already exist in
areas like the Southern North Sea, a marine protected area for
harbor purposes. The report identifies a critical need for better
planning when government thresholds might prevent multiple projects
from operating simultaneously. Key proposals include a coordinated
framework for cooperation and a transparent decision making process
to quickly resolve scheduling conflicts. [00:03:00] Juliet
Shrimpton and Ben Sykes from Ørsted emphasize the importance of
balancing biodiversity protection with clean energy development to
meet UK's 2030 targets. And Marine Renewables Canada's new
assessment reveals significant opportunities for atlantic Canada's
wind energy supply chain. Under medium development scenarios.
Offshore wind projects could create up to 6,000 jobs during peak
periods while onshore wind could generate 5,000 jobs. Of 1070
companies assessed for offshore wind. Roughly 25% were considered
highly applicable based on experience and services for onshore
wind. Roughly 22% of the 950 companies met similar criteria with
and 100 additional businesses showing expansion potential. The
report highlights opportunities for indigenous led businesses, and
recommends further investment in infrastructure, workforce
training, and [00:04:00] specialized manufacturing.