Ørsted Announces New Additions to its Mid-Atlantic Marine Affairs Team
Coast Guard Officer, Commercial Fishing Veteran to Lead Maritime Outreach
for Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2
Atlantic City, NJ (August 29, 2022) Ørsted, the U.S. leader in offshore wind, today announced the addition of two seasoned maritime industry leaders to its Mid-Atlantic Marine Affairs team. Former U.S. Coast Guard Commander Norm Witt and commercial fisherman Dana Nelson will lead outreach to the maritime community in support of its Mid-Atlantic projects, including Ocean Wind 1, developed by Ørsted and PSEG, and Ocean Wind 2. At 2,248 megawatts, Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2 will power 1 million homes.
“Ørsted is strongly committed to working collaboratively with the maritime community and all ocean users to ensure we can achieve clean, renewable energy and a thriving maritime industry,” said Maddy Urbish, Ørsted’s head of government affairs and market strategy in New Jersey. “Commander Witt and Dana Nelson bring a breadth of experience to our in-house Marine Affairs team that will allow us to further engage with the recreational and commercial fisheries, as well as other maritime users, about the development of our offshore wind projects in and around New Jersey.”
Ørsted has assembled the largest and most proactive Marine Affairs team of any offshore wind developer in the U.S. The Marine Affairs team works closely with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and other federal agencies to minimize disruption of fishing activities during all phases of project development while focusing on vessel access and safe navigation during wind farm operations. This includes maintaining close engagement with maritime stakeholders, including the recreational and commercial fishing communities.
Norm Witt, Mid-Atlantic Marine Affairs Manager
Norm Witt joins Ørsted with over 23 years of experience as a Coast Guard officer with diverse operational assignments during his military career. After serving as deck watch officer aboard a Coast Guard cutter, he transitioned to marine safety and security and completed multiple operational tours on the East, West, and Gulf Coasts. Witt’s most recent assignments include Executive Officer of the Pacific Strike Team and Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Savannah. Witt also served four years as an officer in the U.S. Army prior to transitioning to the Coast Guard.
Witt will direct engagement with maritime stakeholders, identifying and addressing navigation safety issues, and working with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Dana Nelson, Mid-Atlantic Marine Affairs Specialist
Dana Nelson has a diverse career including 12 years as a commercial fisherman, including time spent on a fishing vessel out of Cape May, and several years as a Department of Defense contractor. Nelson previously served Ørsted as a Fisheries Liaison Officer supporting Mid-Atlantic site investigation surveys. Originally from Gibson Island, Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay, Dana been a resident of Ocean City, Maryland for the past 40 years.
Nelson will be responsible for facilitating, maintaining, and improving relationships with local and regional commercial fishing fleets and other maritime stakeholders.
About Ørsted Offshore North America
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Four years in a row, Ørsted earned recognition as the world’s most sustainable energy company by Corporate Knights, including for 2022. The company is a global clean energy leader and has the largest portfolio of offshore wind energy in the world.
In the United States, Ørsted operates the Block Island Wind Farm, America’s first offshore wind farm, and constructed the two-turbine Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project – the first turbines to be installed in federal waters. Ørsted has approximately 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy in development in five states and across seven projects. Ørsted Offshore’s North American business is jointly headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island and employs approximately 250 people. To learn more visit us.orsted.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@OrstedUS).