Advancing Equity in Offshore Wind Development

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The Challenge

In 2021, member states of the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) asked for help integrating equity and justice into offshore wind planning, policies, and programs. These states recognized that offshore wind could bring major economic and environmental benefits, but also that historically marginalized communities were often left out of the decision-making process.

CESA engaged Equnival Partners to lead community-centered outreach and co-design a process that moved beyond traditional consultation. Both organizations agreed this effort represented a larger opportunity: to build shared understanding and genuine partnership between state agencies and community-based organizations (CBOs) working on offshore wind and environmental justice.

The goal was not merely to provide recommendations, but to create a collaborative space where communities and agencies could identify barriers together and shape more equitable offshore wind development practices.

Our Approach

Phase 1
Scoping Dialogue
(2022–Early 2023)

This phase culminated in the Offshore Wind and Equity Roundtable in early 2023, which brought together:

  • 15 state agencies from nine states, and

  • Six CBOs representing coastal and frontline communities.

Participants surfaced several systemic issues that, if addressed, could make offshore wind development more just, inclusive, and community-responsive.

Equnival and CESA began by engaging state agencies and CBOs across the East Coast to understand their priorities, concerns, and lived experiences with offshore wind planning.

Phase 2
National Workshop (August 2024)

Building on the Roundtable, CESA and Equnival convened a national workshop titled “Rethinking Community Engagement in Offshore Wind Planning and Development.”

During this session, state and community participants identified six key areas where states could significantly strengthen community engagement throughout the offshore wind lifecycle.

Phase 3
Offshore Wind and Equity Working Group (2024–2025)

To continue the momentum, Equnival and CESA established an ongoing Offshore Wind and Equity Working Group, composed of three state agencies, and seven community-based organizations.

The group met for six formal sessions over eight months, supported by dozens of one-on-one and small-group conversations. These dialogues emphasized building trust, understanding differences, and fostering a shared commitment to equity in offshore wind development.

The Outcome

The Working Group produced a robust set of equity-centered recommendations for improving state-community collaboration in offshore wind planning and development.

These recommendations reflect:

  • Months of honest and at times difficult conversations

  • Willingness to confront challenging questions

  • A collective commitment to consensus-driven problem-solving

The result is a practical and community-informed roadmap for states seeking to embed equity into offshore wind policy, permitting, and engagement practices. To learn more about the detailed recommendations, follow here.