“Carpe Ventum et Pecunium”: Floating Offshore Wind Generation, Prof. Mr. Jason Bush

Speaker: Prof. Mr. Jason Bush, Pacific Offshore Energy Trust
Title – “Carpe Ventum et Pecunium”: Floating Offshore Wind Generation

Abstract: Floating offshore wind energy is a nascent form of renewable energy development that marries oil and gas floating technologies with wind components from the well developed bottom mounted offshore wind sector. With steep bathymetry and deep waters, coupled with world class wind resources, the west coast is poised to develop 10’s of gigawatts of floating offshore wind. Europe dominates this sector to date, but Asia, and China in particular, are quickly developing and will soon lead Europe in installed capacity. The sector is truly global, with supply chains spread out across the globe. Costs continue to decline, reflecting economies of scale and market pressures. The United States is a relative late comer to this sector, but offshore wind has clearly launched on the east coast, and the west coast recently hosted its first lease auctions. Several factors are driving the west coast sector, including state policy goals for clean energy and a growing demand for new generation to power an increasingly electrified economy. And while this sector offers enormous opportunities, it also has several challenges to address, including potential effects on the ocean and its users, as well as suite of issues such as transmission, supply chain, port infrastructure, and workforce development. BOEM’s process seeks to balance these issues, while advancing its core responsibilities to develop energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf. The states also play an essential role, and can largely dictate whether and to what extent offshore wind develops.

Bio: Jason Busch is Executive Director of the Pacific Ocean Energy Trust (POET), an organization that promotes ocean based climate solutions. Mr. Busch is a co-chair of the Marine Energy Council, the national trade group for the marine hydrokinetic energy sector. Mr. Busch is also the Secretary/Treasurer of Offshore Wind California and Secretary of the Renewable Hydrogen Alliance. He sits on several advisory boards, including the:

• Pacific Offshore Wind Energy Research group;
• Science and Technology Advisory Committee to the Offshore Wind Synthesis of Environmental
• Effects Research Program (NREL/PNNL);
• Oregon Renewable Energy Siting Assessment project;
• Pacific Marine Energy Center Advisory Council; and the
• Department of State Lands Rulemaking Advisory Committee.

Prior to joining Oregon Wave Energy Trust, Mr. Busch was an attorney specializing in land use, energy, and project development.
Mr. Busch holds a B.A. in Political Science from Texas A&M University and a M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Southern Mississippi. He received a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree in 2006 from the University of Oregon School of Law, graduating with honors and admitted to the Order of the Coif. He has multiple publications, including most recently a chapter in Climate Change Impacts on Ocean and Coastal Law, published by Oxford University Press.

Oregon Wave Energy Trust I 240 N Broadway, Suite 128, Portland, OR 97227
p: 503.224.1966 I e: info@oregonwave.org I www.oregonwave.org
Jason Busch
Executive Director
T: 503.729.2253
E: jbusch@pacificoceanenergy.org
www.pacificoceanenergy.org