With a new-look administration in the US, we’ve seen a heavy reduction in the federal workforce, a wave of environmental policy introductions and walk backs, and pauses or altogether cuts of funding—all of which continue to impact developments far and wide.
With an influx of experienced talent entering the available workforce pool, private entities might be in an advantageous position to scoop up knowledgeable and skilled experts to bolster their teams.
The global offshore energy space as a whole—oil, gas, and renewables—is in a state of flux, being constantly shaped by shifting geopolitics. From withdrawals of offshore wind leasing in the US outer continental shelf to the removal of regulatory and funding barriers for LNG and offshore oil & gas, the capacity to respond to unfolding policy priorities will be key to commercial developers.
Recent announcements by Ørsted, who discontinued the Hornsea 4 project in the UK in its current form; Fugro, who slimmed down its workforce and scaled back its US operations; and Beam, who ceased operations and made more than 100 staff redundant in late March, may speak to the volatility of the global offshore wind market.
While some Q1 uncertainties seem to have been settled, there’s little indication that this wave of change is over.
Spaces we’re watching: marine and ocean policy; funding pipelines; offshore energy.
You’ll find news and insights on all the above in “the water column”—an exclusive editorial dedicated to giving our readers an alternate, bird’s eye view of the most significant happenings across the marine science, industry, and policy space. To keep abreast of all the latest developments, access the water column in print editions of eco magazine, nestled among the pages of Environmental Policy news, and in a monthly circulating digital edition found on LinkedIn and our website.
