U.S. Offshore Wind Workforce Summit

Building a resilient and well-trained workforce is one of the most pressing needs facing the U.S. offshore wind industry. This year’s conference features a robust Workforce Development workshop track (sponsored by the National Academies Gulf Research Program) and addresses issues such as overcoming gender-based challenges, fostering diversity within your organization, demystifying offshore wind career paths, and more.

In addition to workshops, 2023 IPF features the 2023 U.S. Offshore Wind Workforce Summit. Sponsored by Total Energies, the goal of this participatory summit is to foster partnership, collaboration, and new programs to address offshore wind industry workforce needs. 

This is a closed, invite-only event. If you would like to be considered for an invitation, please fill out this form.

11:00 a.m. – Welcome Remarks

11:10 a.m. – Welcome Remarks

11:20 a.m. – Keynote Address

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Keeping Pace: The Challenge of Aligning Workforce Needs with Industry Growth

This year’s Offshore Wind Workforce Summit will kick off with a panel to highlight the top workforce development challenges for the rapidly growing U.S. offshore wind industry. Panelists will identify the main bottlenecks in workforce specialization needs, as well as explore how the workforce of parallel industries can be further developed and trained. Speakers will also share some of the organizations, programs, and industry resources currently working to tackle these challenges.

Panelists: 

12:00 – 12:40 p.m.

Break Out Session:

Summit participants will break into working groups to brainstorm ideas on how to merge various workforce development efforts, develop opportunities for collaboration, and how to build out these ideas to scale. Groups will share a summary of their ideas.

12:40 – 1:25 p.m.

Working Lunch: NREL Presentation 

Panelists

1:25 – 2:10 p.m.

Panel 2: Building Opportunity: Creating Training Infrastructure that Benefits Local Communities.

The nascent U.S. offshore wind industry represents a unique opportunity to build a skilled and trained workforce and strengthen pathways to employment, especially within communities that have historically been impacted by the polluting fossil fuel energy industry. Building pipelines and setting up a training infrastructure that meets community members where they are is no simple task. Join renewable energy developers and workforce development experts for an exploration of partnership opportunities and strategies that will ensure access to training while responding to employer needs.

Panelists: 

2:05 – 2:45 p.m.

Break Out Sessions: Solution-Oriented Discussions for Offshore Wind Workforce Development

In October 2022, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published the U.S. Offshore Wind Energy Workforce Assessment. This session will build off the initial assessment by asking participants to identify specific actions that are required to address the gaps identified in the report and how to encourage collaboration between stakeholders to create a diverse and equitable workforce pipeline. Participant feedback will support NREL’s efforts to conduct additional research on these topic areas and create resources for specific stakeholders to act. 

Summit participants will break into groups to discuss aligning college and union-led training programs to meet skilled trade worker demand; common understandings of certain key roles and skills required; transitioning workers from other industries; and creating a more diverse workforce.

2:50 p.m.

Comments from Maryland Department of Labor Secretary, Portia Wu

3:00 p.m.

Closing Thoughts and Next Steps