Offshore Wind – Rising to meet energy sustainability challenges. Session led by VHB.

July 9, 2021 11:00 am – 12:30 pm EST | 8:00 am – 9:30am PST | Watch recording

Offshore Wind development is well underway here in the US after great success in Europe and Asia. This session will explain how offshore wind projects are developed, how they operate, the industry’s impact the environment, and how they are a crucial part of the future of sustainable development. The session will include presentations by offshore wind projects experts KC Sahl, Anne-Elizabeth Kaitano, and Ryan Prime from VHB; and Jamie MacDonald from Xodus.

Background materials

https://www.whyoffshorewind.org/

https://www.boem.gov/ocean-wind

https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/offshore-wind-research-and-development

Speaker bios

KC Sahl – VHB

KC has been working in the offshore wind industry since 2007.  He has served as an offshore wind developer and consultant helping to site and permit wind farms along the east coast of the US.  KC operates at the intersection of regulation, finance, law and engineering.  He currently serves as the Northeast Energy Market Lead for VHB.

Anne-Elizabeth Kaitano – VHB

Anne-Elizabeth is a Senior Environmental Scientist/Project Manager at VHB. Operating primarily from New York City, Anne-Elizabeth brings more than 15 years of experience developing and executing permitting and stakeholder engagement strategies to advance onshore and offshore energy projects, positioning VHB to deliver effective and strategic solutions for energy clients. Since 2016 Anne-Elizabeth has provided support to multiple, local offshore wind initiatives in New York and New Jersey in addition to states along the Eastern Seaboard. Anne-Elizabeth brings experience navigating environmental permitting and working directly with agencies like the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), among others. Anne-Elizabeth has a master’s degree in Conservation Biology from Columbia University and a BA in Biology from Wittenberg University in Springfield, OH. She is a member of the Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainability Energy’s New York Chapter. 

Ryan Prime – VHB

As VHB’s Sustainability Practice Leader based in New York, Ryan works to integrate sustainability throughout our operations, business practices, and client deliverables. Prior to joining VHB, Ryan  led the team responsible for developing and executing the project-wide sustainability program for the $4 billion LGA Terminal B Redevelopment project. Ryan has served as chair of the Construction Industry Workgroup for the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure and has provided his expertise in the development and review of the Envision Rating System 2.0 and 3.0. In addition he lectures at Columbia University on sustainable development for the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. Ryan is a frequent presenter at Harvard University’s Zofnass Program Workshops and is a member of American Society of Civil Engineers’ Sustainable Infrastructure Standards Committee. Ryan holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Geoscience from Boston College and a M.E. degree in Ocean Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Jamie MacDonald – Xodus

Jamie MacDonald is a chartered Mechanical Engineer with more than 10 years’ experience. He has worked on numerous projects from concept level through to detailed design and since joining Xodus Group Jamie has become a detail-focused project manager with a strong track record of managing large projects across the offshore energy industry. With a marine and offshore construction background, including supervising contractors during operations, he is well versed in how to deliver marine construction projects from pre-feasibility through execution and into operation.