Plenary

2023 IPF Plenary

The 2023 IPF Plenary features 20 industry and government leaders who will share their point of view on the most pressing issues facing offshore wind. View the complete schedule below.

The Plenary will take place Wednesday, March 29, 8:30-10:30 a.m. 

8:30 AM

10 Years in the Making: From Legislation to Commercialization

8:40 a.m 

Think Big: Envisioning the 110 GW Market to Encourage Macro-Breakthroughs

8:50 a.m 

Welcome to Maryland

9:00 a.m.

Cutting Through the Head Winds: Building a Domestic Supply Chain During Inflationary Times

Building an offshore wind supply chain during an inflationary period can be challenging, as the rising cost of materials and labor can make projects more expensive. Major headwinds are threatening commercial scale progress as rising costs and tightening supply chains are pushing developers, manufacturers, and suppliers to the brink. Building a sustainable U.S. market requires a strong, domestic supply chain, but how can the industry develop that robust supply chain when inflationary pressures call for cutting back, reining in costs, and relying on existing suppliers? Industry leaders will discuss how to build a domestic supply chain during inflationary periods – one of the most pressing issues of our time currently facing industry.

9:35 a.m.

Ali Zaidi, White House National Climate Advisor

9:45 a.m.

Hot Market Drivers: How the IRA Creates New Demand for Offshore Wind   

There’s been a sea-change in U.S. energy policy as passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will drive demand for offshore wind to new heights. The legislation’s unparalleled incentives for electric vehicles and buildings, green hydrogen production, and carbon capture systems supercharge traditional offshore wind markets for electricity and create new avenues for offtake.

The cumulative demand for new energy will push U.S. offshore wind beyond its 110 GW+ ambitions, creating fierce competition and putting further strain on the global supply chain and transmission grid. The opening IPF plenary panel examines how hot market drivers – new and old – impact offshore wind’s ultimate trajectory, how developers and suppliers can move to capture these new opportunities, and what the industry must do to prepare the infrastructure for the inevitable demand for offshore wind power.   

10:25 a.m.

Kevin Sligh, Director, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

10:35 AM

Steel in the Water: An Offshore Wind Regulatory Update