William “Billy” Bishop, a former Navy sailor and union laborer from Local 1298 on Long Island, eagerly joined the offshore wind industry two years ago when he learned about job opportunities. He earned a safety certification from the National Offshore Wind Training Center and worked on projects near Rhode Island and off Long Island’s coast, including structural inspections and maintenance on Sunrise Wind.
However, the industry’s future is uncertain due to the Trump administration’s efforts to halt offshore wind projects. Bishop worries this could be his last project for a while, noting that contracts are falling through across the country.
A Boom Turned Bust
In 2021, the Biden administration aimed to generate 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030, requiring an estimated 77,000 workers. States and energy developers collaborated with universities and unions to create training programs, including safety certifications and apprenticeships. A March 2024 report by the Department of Energy estimated a massive deficit of qualified wind workers by 2030, but the wind rush came to a screeching halt on Jan. 20, 2025, when Trump’s second term began.
Since then, offshore wind has faced legal, administrative, and economic challenges. The administration paused new leases, issued stop-work orders, and rolled back tax credits, dimming the industry’s prospects. Training programs are downsizing or shifting focus to skills useful outside offshore wind. Roger Clayman, a director at the National Offshore Wind Training Center, remains hopeful: “I think we’re going to be busy into 2027. How deep into 2027, we don’t know,” he said, referring to the scheduled completion of Orsted’s Sunrise Wind.
Adapting to Uncertainty
The first commercial-scale wind farm off Long Island began delivering power in December 2023. Back then, the industry expected exponential growth, spurred by federal funding. But Trump’s actions halted progress, leaving about 6 gigawatts of offshore wind online or under construction—less than a third of Biden’s approved projects.
Training programs are adapting. At Stony Brook University, a class on high-voltage direct current now focuses on a wider range of applications, such as solar farms and regional grids. Derek O’Connor, a workforce development manager, notes the overlap between offshore wind skills and the broader energy sector.
Despite the challenges, the clean energy sector faces a growing worker shortage. Wind turbine technicians and solar installers are among the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. Abby Huston of the Clean Power Institute says programs are adapting rather than closing: “There’s still such a huge need.”
Bishop, meanwhile, is renewing his certification this summer. He has another year on the Sunrise project before likely returning to onshore construction—unless offshore wind’s fortunes shift dramatically.
Training Programs Adapt to Survive
Offshore wind training programs are adjusting to the new reality by downsizing and broadening their focus. Some are emphasizing skills applicable to other energy sectors, like solar farms and regional grids. The class at Stony Brook University, part of the Offshore Wind Training Institute funded with $20 million from the state and SUNY, initially focused on offshore wind but now covers a wider range of applications.
The Future of Offshore Wind
Despite the current challenges, energy industry experts believe offshore wind could make a comeback. Surging energy demand and costs are pressuring policymakers to explore all available energy sources. Unions like the Pile Drivers Local Union 56 in Boston, which trained workers for offshore wind, are now exploring opportunities in overseas wind farms and other infrastructure projects.
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center has shifted some funding from offshore wind to a broader “ocean tech” portfolio, focusing on coastal resilience and marine ecosystem health. A Maryland job training program initially aimed at offshore wind has placed thousands in related fields like shipbuilding and aerospace.
No new offshore wind farms have broken ground since Trump’s second term began. Workers like Bishop are renewing their certifications, hoping for a shift in offshore wind’s fortunes.
Contact editor Caroline Preston at 212-870-8965, via Signal at CarolineP.83 or on email at [email protected].
