PNNL

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) Wind Energy Program Manager and Operational Systems Engineering Group Leader Alicia Mahon recently accepted two exciting new advisory roles related to offshore wind energy and engineering. She joined the advisory committee of the Pacific Offshore Wind Consortium (POWC) and the external advisory panel for the Ocean and Resources Engineering (ORE) department at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.  

POWC is a joint effort between three research centers: the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt, the Pacific Marine Energy Center at Oregon State University, and the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Together, these universities support West Coast communities that are anticipated to host floating offshore wind development. The consortium is designed to enable universities, host communities, and Tribal nations to share resources, co-develop best practices, and design comprehensive research programs that reflect the dynamic nature of the ocean environment and the diversity of community perspectives.

Mahon joins an interdisciplinary committee composed of representatives from Tribal Nations, state agencies, federal laboratories, sea grant partnerships, the offshore wind industry, and more. As a non-governing committee, this group will provide guidance to POWC and advance discussion and collaboration in the offshore wind space. 

Established in 1966, ORE is an academic department in the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. Its mission is to educate top quality ocean and resource engineers to meet the needs of Hawai’i, the nation, and the engineering profession. 

As an ocean engineer by training with a diverse and interdisciplinary background in environmental, ocean, and coastal engineering to support ocean energy development—along with years of experience managing wind energy projects sponsored by the Department of Energy and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management—Mahon brings valuable perspective to upcoming ORE efforts, including re-evaluating its master’s program and updating its specialization classes for coastal, offshore, resources, and oceanographic engineering.

“It is an honor to join such passionate teams of experts and decision-makers to help shape the future of the U.S. wind industry,” Mahon said. “The Pacific Ocean holds so much potential for abundant, reliable wind energy that can have huge benefits for local communities and the nation overall when developed in an equitable and environmentally responsible way.”