As I continue to talk with experts in the wind-energy industry, I am getting so excited about the seemingly constant chatter surrounding offshore wind development in the U.S.
It seems like, since the Block Island Wind Farm in Rhode Island went online almost a year and a half ago, more and more companies are pushing to get more steel in the water.
And now that the Trump Administration has given a major boost to offshore wind development with a recently announced sale of two new offshore wind leases off Massachusetts, the reality of U.S. wind in the Atlantic just got another step closer.
As wind grows, the need for technicians will only become more crucial to the success of new wind projects across the country, as well as the continental shelf.
This issue of Wind Systems takes a look at the growing field of wind technicians and the schools that offer this lucrative training. Experts from Iowa Lake Community College and Kalamazoo Valley Grove Center talk about what their institutions can teach the aspiring wind tech.
In addition to sharing the state of the workforce and training, this issue also takes a look at turbine inspection.
Babak Sardary, CEO of Scoop MAE, talks about how advanced mobile and cloud-information technology can be a potent tool in helping wind technicians and their managers achieve better results.
And getting back to offshore wind, in this month’s Crosswinds, I had the opportunity to talk with experts from Ramboll’s global wind division on the challenges that offshore wind faces and how to approach them in order to get those offshore turbines spinning.
Our company profile features a big fish in the energy industry. Experts with Shell Energy talk with Wind Systems about how Shell has invested significantly in wind over the past 15 years, both in assets, as well as products and services for major wind OEMs around the world.
I hope you enjoy these features and much more in our May issue.
There is a lot going on in the industry, and I am always excited to bring the latest news and information to you.
As always, thanks for reading!
