The Offshore Marine Service Affiliation (OMSA) views President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum to pause offshore wind enchancment duties as a necessary various to reassess the enterprise’s course.
Whereas offshore wind provides tremendous potential for monetary improvement and job creation inside the U.S., OMSA agrees that over-reliance on abroad renewable energy companies, abroad vessels, and abroad mariners to assemble American offshore wind farms undermines these benefits and is deeply problematic.
“The offshore oil enterprise was born in South Louisiana, with OMSA members serving as a result of the necessary hyperlink between energy manufacturing and America, and for over 70-years, our vessels and crews have supported offshore oil enchancment, driving monetary improvement and providing good-paying jobs to hard-working Folks,” acknowledged Aaron Smith, President of OMSA. “When the offshore wind enterprise emerged, we welcomed it as a model new various to broaden utilizing our U.S.-built, crewed, and owned vessels, leveraging the similar expertise and belongings we’ve honed inside the oil and gasoline enterprise.”
No matter its promise, the offshore wind enterprise proper now could be falling in want of its potential to drive American job improvement. Smith continues, “We proceed to think about that offshore wind will probably be an unimaginable monetary driver, creating 1000’s of good-paying American jobs – however many high-quality jobs are being outsourced to abroad mariners on vessels constructed overseas, in worldwide places like China, whereas American vessels and workers are uncared for.
This improvement not solely weakens the monetary have an effect on of offshore wind duties however moreover hinders the long-term enchancment of a self-reliant, American-driven renewable energy enterprise.
“We view this pause in offshore wind enchancment as a necessary second to reset the enterprise’s priorities,” acknowledged Smith. “By addressing these systemic factors, we’ve now a chance to guarantee that offshore wind is delivering on its promise by creating jobs for American mariners, supporting U.S. shipyards, and reinvesting inside the American financial system.”
OMSA stands in a position to work alongside policymakers and enterprise leaders to assemble a stronger, fairer and further sustainable offshore wind enterprise that really locations America first.