UMass Dartmouth launches new offshore wind research initiative

Apr 16, 2018

UMass Dartmouth researchers are delving into the emerging offshore wind industry through a new initiative at the university’s Public Policy Center.

The center’s new Offshore Wind Economics Project, or OSWEP, will focus on offering insight and evidence to guide policymaking and maximize the economic and community benefits associated with current and future offshore wind developments in Massachusetts and beyond.

The center’s faculty and staff have, in recent years, taken on comprehensive studies of the state’s maritime economy, and examined the offshore wind developments proposed in Massachusetts and Connecticut by Vineyard Wind.

The center is also working with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Bristol Community College, and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to research the economic and workforce implications of a proposed 1,600 MW offshore wind buildout in Massachusetts.

“The emergence of the OSW industry in the United States offers us a tremendous opportunity to capture and record the evolution of a brand new economic sector,” noted Professor Michael Goodman, Executive Director of the Public Policy Center. “Over the past two years, we have developed the deep subject matter expertise and experience that will be required to take full advantage of that opportunity.”

The program, as well as other developments UMass Dartmouth has made in addressing marine and ocean science and engineering, will be the subject of an upcoming half-day conference on April 19.

Visit umassd.edu for more information about the conference, and umassd.edu/oswep for more information about the offshore wind project.