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Despite Winter Storms, AAPA Energy Projects Seminar Draws Well

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Billed as a "must-attend" for port and maritime professionals looking to the energy sector as a bottom line booster, AAPA’s first-ever Maritime Economic Development Energy Projects Seminar, hosted February 24-25 by the Port of Pensacola, drew more than 60 participants from Canada, Panama and the United States. The program featured eye-opening examples, opportunities and forecasts for energy project success and growth from both renewable and non-renewable sources.

The opening presentation was an energy industry overview by Barry Worthington, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Energy Association. A veteran analyst and energy sector specialist, Mr. Worthington predicted the greatest near-term rewards for ports are still in non-renewables like coal, petroleum and natural gas, but with a focus on port electrification, technological advances and an eye on global climate change, there’s a strong upward growth trend in demand for renewable energy sources. 

CEOs and deputy directors representing eight ports followed with first-hand reports on energy projects at their ports, ranging from coal, methane, butane and natural gas, to offshore wind, solar, wood pellets and biomass. Additional featured presenters covered economic and environmental opportunities in these and other energy areas of interest to ports. 

In a highly-anticipated session titled, "Increasing Project Success Through Coordination and Collaboration," Pensacola Port Director Amy Miller lead a panel of presenters on the benefits to ports of forming strategic alliances with community leaders and stakeholders, as well as with other ports, communities and regions to toward the goal of obtaining a "social license to operate." Following that, various energy industry experts offered advice on what ports can do to finance and maximize success of their energy projects. 

Seminar-goers braved a drenching rain storm to tour a GE wind generator manufacturing and assembly plant that ships materials in an out of the Port of Pensacola. The bus tour concluded with a stop at the on-port construction site of an offshore pipe manufacturing plant. 

Click here to access the seminar presentations on the AAPA website.


Pensacola Port Director Amy Miller accepts a host port plaque from AAPA President Kurt Nagle during AAPA’s Maritime Economic Development Energy Projects Seminar.
Photo/AAPA
 

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