2021 Newsletter #7 | Equinor Partnership, Client Wins, and Meet Our Newest Team Members

Karp Strategies is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Equinor to support the offshore wind developer’s efforts in fulfilling its $47M commitment to community benefits in the United States from its offshore wind activities.

The first focus of the partnership will be New York, where Equinor won the state’s bid with its Empire Wind and Beacon Wind developments. Managing Principal and CEO Rebecca Karp said: “This is a pivotal moment for offshore wind in the US. At the dawn of a new industry, now is the time to ensure that we’re building the ecosystem in a way that works for the regional economy, lays the foundation for a local renewable energy supply chain, and positions New Yorkers and New Englanders to take advantage of the jobs and economic stimulus that these projects will provide. We look forward to partnering with Equinor, a global leader in this space, in positioning the Northeast US to reap the benefits of offshore wind for decades to come.”

Equinor Wind US Head of Public Affairs David Marks said: “New York is positioned to become the hub of a thriving offshore wind industry in the US and Equinor is committed to centering communities at the heart of offshore wind development in New York State. Karp Strategies will provide critical support in making sure we execute an equity-driven community benefits plan that delivers for local residents and the region.” Karp Strategies will support Equinor’s implementation of a community-economic development strategy and stakeholder engagement in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and Albany’s Capital Region surrounding the developer’s investments in the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal and Port of Albany, respectively.

Congratulations are in order to our long-time client, Atlantic Shores, for winning New Jersey’s second, landmark offshore wind solicitation. This project will potentially triple the state’s wind energy capacity, firmly reinforcing New Jersey’s position as a national leader in this emerging industry. To support Atlantic Shores, Karp Strategies developed a robust stakeholder engagement strategy to execute transparent and effective engagement, and conducted an analysis to understand the workforce and capacity-building needs for the construction and operations of offshore wind.

If you are interested in learning more about Atlantic Shores’ project, register here for their virtual Open Houses happening this week:

• Today, Wednesday, July 21, 2021 from 12pm-2pm EST

• Thursday, July 22, 2021 from 6:30pm-8:30pm EST

Here at Karp Strategies, we dedicate our time and practice to community economic development, and work to build communities, cities, and economies that thrive. With the recent growth in renewable energy and the promise of US-based jobs and investment, we are actively exploring what this means in practice. The US national energy economy is transforming: investments in renewable sectors have surpassed those for oil and natural gas. As the growing offshore wind industry is led by Scandinavian developers, a crucial question is brought to the fore: How does the U.S. thread the needle of working collaboratively with international industry leaders while committing to a home-grown offshore wind supply chain? Read Rebecca’s OpEd in Greenbiz here.

Karp Strategies continues to grow. We are pleased to introduce two new Graduate Analysts, Alana Pogostin and Danielle Roberts. Zeineb Sellami, who was previously a Graduate Analyst, returns as an Analyst. Welcome!

Trained as an urban planner and economist, Alana draws on her experience in economics, statistics, and geospatial analysis to support offshore wind and economic development projects. She is also currently a Research Assistant at the NYU Furman Center, and is pursuing her Master’s in Urban Planning at NYU Wagner. Learn more about Alana here.

Danielle brings experience in real estate, community development, and statistics, and currently supports Karp Strategies’ market analysis and economic development projects. She also conducts data analysis at Columbia University’s Housing Lab. Danielle is currently pursuing her Master’s in Urban Planning at Columbia University. Learn more about Danielle here.

Trained as an architect and urban planner, Zeineb develops stakeholder outreach and engagement strategies, and works to advance equitable development and renewable energy projects. She has contributed to strategies in support of shared streets for a business improvement district, MWBE procurement strategy for private firms, and engagement efforts for offshore wind initiatives on behalf of a state agency. Zeineb previously worked at the GSAPP Housing Lab and at The Elevated Studio. She holds a Master of Urban Planning from Columbia University, and a Master of Architecture from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Versailles. Read more about Zeineb here.

With our partners VHB, Baird, and The Business Network for Offshore Wind the Karp Strategies team will be co-hosting the Offshore Wind Drinks Meetup - this time in person. Join us at Torch & Crown Brewery, 12 Vandam St, NY 10013, on Thursday, July 29 from 6PM onwards!

If you are interested in joining, please email the Karp Strategies team at juli@karpstrategies.com, and you will be added to the guest list.

Karp Strategies is hiring a Consultant with expertise in economic development and real estate advisory to join our team! If you are interested in analyzing buildings, districts, and cities in service of creating thriving and equitable economies and places, check out the job posting here.

We are also hiring a Full-Time Executive Assistant to support our growing team. The Executive Assistant will work directly with the CEO, Executive Team, and Operations Team in support of the firm’s vision. Check out the job posting here.

Want to continue the conversation? We’d love to hear from you. As always, we welcome the opportunity to connect with your network of partners and clients or to work with you. Reach out to us at info@karpstrategies.com.