Oceantic Network announced Maine Governor Janet Mills as a featured speaker at its annual International Partnering Forum (IPF),hosted by bp, Fugro, RWE, and Shell Renewables and Energy Solutions, happening April 22-25 in New Orleans. Gov. Mills will speak about the value of international partnerships, and later, discuss the potential for floating offshore wind to deliver economic benefits and clean, renewable energy for homes and businesses in Maine. 

“Floating offshore wind will provide countless opportunities for companies in the offshore wind supply chain,” said Liz Burdock, founder and CEO of Oceantic Network. “We’re thrilled to have Governor Mills offer her unparalleled insight on industry development, based on her experience as Maine’s governor, and illustrate floating offshore wind’s viability beyond the West Coast.” 

Gov. Mills will take part in an IPF panel discussion, How Transatlantic Government Partnerships are Maximizing Offshore Wind Opportunities, on Wednesday, April 24, at 11:00 a.m. CST. She will be joined on the panel by Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Liz Klein, Norway’s Ambassador to the U.S. Anniken Krutnes, and British Consul General Richard Hyde. The discussion will focus on the importance of collaboration to offshore wind’s advancement, drawing on Gov. Mills’ experience with the New England for Offshore Wind partnership made up of Maine and several Northeast states. The conversation will be moderated by Tony Appleton, Offshore Wind Director at Burns & McDonnell. 

Gov. Mills will also participate as a keynote speaker and deliver opening remarks on Wednesday, April 24, at 2:00 p.m. CST at the Network’s FloatON Summit, a new event at IPF dedicated to sharing knowledge, best practices, and innovations in floating offshore wind. Maine has the potential to be a leader in the development of domestic floating offshore wind due to its rich maritime heritage, proposed purpose-built deepwater port, record of floating offshore wind innovation, and a commitment to groundbreaking research on offshore wind’s coexistence with fisheries and the environment. Gov. Mills will discuss her efforts as the state’s governor to advance the floating offshore wind industry not just in Maine, but nationwide. 

“Building off our previous events, the Summit will cover more aspects of floating offshore wind technology than ever before,” added Burdock. “FloatON will be a forum for examining the industry’s existing challenges through a fresh lens and considering the unseen potential of emerging technologies.” 

Oceantic Network | https://oceantic.org/