HomeMy WebLinkAbout030724 email - Opportunity to provide local government input on offshore wind engagement in WashingtonALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear Todd, Jill, Kevin, Vickie, Kate, Heidi, Greg, Lisa, David, Jerry, Lee, Daniel, and Gene,
As part of our work with Washington State Office of Governor Inslee, Gridworks invites communities and governments impacted by the potential development of floating offshore wind off
the Washington Coast to shape any future discussion of offshore wind in Washington State.
The U.S. federal government, California, and Oregon are exploring offshore wind development on the West Coast. Formal federal process has not begun in Washington; however, Washington
State is considering how best to guide any possible future process through the development of a planning and evaluation engagement framework. Governor Inslee’s Office recently hired
Gridworks to convene impacted Tribes and stakeholders in a pre-decisional effort to scope the type of engagement Washington Tribes, fisheries, industry, conservation groups, local governments,
communities, and other interested parties, would like to see from and around formal federal offshore wind processes, including how Washington might supplement a federal process.
We invite you to join us for one of several planned discussion sessions in March and April. Each session will be approximately 2 to 3 hours long. We intend these sessions to be inclusive
and collaborative—no prior experience with offshore wind is necessary.
Discussions will take place virtually on Zoom and will center county government direction about a central question:
What type of engagement should guide federal and state discussions of potential offshore wind development off the Washington Coast?
* What does it mean to have an inclusive and transparent process guiding federal planning and evaluation for offshore wind development off the Washington Coast?
* What scientific studies are essential to understanding the impacts of offshore wind off the Washington Coast? What data gaps exist?
* What timeline and funding are needed to ensure an inclusive and transparent process for Washington State?
To ensure our energy future is equitable and just, planners must understand local challenges, opportunities, and needs in exploring the potential of offshore wind development off the
Washington Coast.
Your input gathered from these discussion sessions will be incorporated into the development of a recommended framework and final report that will be submitted to the Governor’s Office
by June 15, 2024.
Please let me know if you are interested in joining this early opportunity to influence potential future discussions of offshore wind off the Washington Coast, if you have any questions,
or if you can suggest other county government leaders to participate. We intend to incorporate availability and recommendations for representation into session scheduling.
We are also coordinating with city governments as well as bureaus of tourism and economic development separately, but we’re happy to hold meetings of combined city/county representation
if you’re open to it!
Sincerely,
Kate Griffith
Gridworks Director
304-216-4474
kgriffith@gridworks.org <mailto:kgriffith@gridworks.org>
www.gridworks.org <https://gridworks.org/>