On Dec 1st, the Ambassador of Denmark to the US, in cooperation with the American-Danish Business Council (ADBC) and the Congressional Offshore Wind Caucus, hosted a reception focusing on off shore wind. The participants included members of the ADBC, many staffers of Congress, government officials and leading Danish companies within offshore wind.
H.E. Lone Dencker Wisborg, the Ambassador of Denmark to the US, started the formal program with a speech on the importance of deploying ever more clean energy in order to avoid the effects of climate change. The Ambassador highlighted Denmark as a front-runner in this field and the enormous potential that exist in the US for offshore wind power.
The Ambassador’s speech was followed by Mr. Sandberg, Chief Advocacy Officer of the American Clean Power Association. Mr. Sandberg was encouraging the staffers and government officials to pay attention to the issues of the offshore wind industry, highlighting the importance of their role in shaping the policies of tomorrow. In order to create more jobs and make investments within offshore wind, there needs to be regulatory predictability and certainty, Mr. Sandberg informed.
Ms. Maggie Lemmerman, Head of Federal Affairs in Orsted North America, offered a glimpse of Orsted, once a company relying solely on fossil fuels, transited into a company that is now only producing carbon-free, clean energy based on offshore wind. Mr. Jon Chase, Vice President of Public Affairs in Vestas-American Wind Technology Inc., followed Ms. Lemmerman’s speech, focusing on the long history of Vestas on onshore wind in the US, Vesta’s newest technological development, a 15 MW turbine for offshore wind.
The formal program ended with the Ambassador giving her thanks to the many participants and encouraging them to stay for the informal program for networking with each other while enjoying signature drinks and Danish hors d’oeuvres.
Thank you to all who participated this evening.