Harnessing the Wind: The Fight for a Clean Energy Future

When you meet environment, energy and offshore wind leader Jen Brock, you’re struck by her warmth—her smile, her thoughtful listening, her deep smarts. But beneath that engaging presence lies formidable grit: decades of advocacy, coalition-building, and real-world change. Now, as Chief Development Officer at Oceantic Network, this Jewish mom (who is proud to report that her daughter just had a bat mitzvah) stands at a critical crossroads—playing a leading role in the charge for offshore wind in a time when clean energy is under direct assault.

Why Offshore Wind Matters—Right Now

Our world is changing faster than ever. Climate shocks—extreme heat, floods, fires—are becoming the new normal. At the same time, our demand for reliable, affordable energy is skyrocketing. From AI to data centers to the electrification of everything, we need more power—and we need clean power.

Offshore wind is already delivering; with multiple projects under construction, this industry is poised to provide nearly 6 GW—enough to power over 1.4 million homes—before the decade’s end. In my home state of Maryland, where I serve as a Climate Commissioner, voters overwhelmingly support it—not just for environmental justice but because offshore wind can stabilize energy prices and deliver real economic benefits.

Politics and Pushback: The Trump Administration’s Attack

Yet that progress is being threatened. The Trump administration has ramped up a targeted assault on offshore wind beyond the Executive Memorandum issued on the President’s first day in office—issuing stop-work orders, freezing funding, and even trying to vacate permits for fully approved projects.

• In Rhode Island and Connecticut, Revolution Wind—80% complete and designed to power 350,000 homes—has been halted by a federal order citing vague “national security” concerns. The project’s owner, Ørsted, and two states have sued in response.

• The administration is also seeking to revoke approval for the New England and South Coast Winds projects. The Massachusetts project alone is projected to serve up to 900,000 homes.

• In Maryland, the US Wind project near Ocean City—a hard-won victory after years of development and permitting review—is now under legal threat as the administration moves to rescind that permit.

Oceantic leaders have been vocal in response. Sam Salustro, SVP at Oceantic, called it “a devastating assault on U.S. workers and businesses,” warning that revoking permits “after years of review will raise electricity prices for millions, jeopardize billions in private investment, and unravel a domestic $25 billion supply chain across 40 states.” And CEO Liz Burdock signed a legal declaration, under ACE NY, in support of the 17 states Attorneys General lawsuit challenging the legality of the Executive Memorandum. The filing delivered hard evidence of the economic damage inflicted—including staff layoffs, stranded assets, and lost or unrealized revenue—because the “President is not a fan of wind.”

This is not a theoretical fight. It’s a political blitz—and one that demands collective action.

Jen Brock: Leading with Heart and Resolve

This is where Jen Brock’s warmth and grit becomes invaluable. Whether she’s shepherding a Maryland business through Oceantic’s accredited market entry coaching program, managing cross-functional clean energy initiatives, or standing up for U.S. supply chain jobs, she does it with poise and urgency.

Her recent work—like advocating to protect US Wind’s permit in Maryland’s courts—is about more than policy. It’s personal. Brock celebrated her daughter Dylan’s Bat Mitzvah on May 4, 2024, where Dylan delivered a D’var Torah blending Star Wars with climate action—“May the Fourth be with you,” she proclaimed—reminding us that these struggles are about our kids and their futures.

I was with Brock recently at a major conference for County officials from Maryland. I watched her work with union leaders, environmental activists and our governor, Wes Moore. Thankfully, Moore is supporting the expansion of clean energy.

We Must Push Harder

With mounting threats—halted projects, pulled funding, and political roadblocks—anyone who cares about clean, affordable energy must dig in harder. We need to elevate voices like Brock’s: solution-driven, people-focused, and unafraid to stand up for what’s right.

As demand surges—from AI platforms to homes and factories—offshore wind is a scalable, reliable, prove solution that is cost-competitive and can be deployed relatively rapidly compared to nearly all other energy sources today. It can grow our clean energy capacity, lower costs, and protect our shared environment—if it’s allowed to proceed.

A Call to Action

Offshore wind isn’t just an energy answer—it’s part of a moral calling. In Jewish tradition, tikkun olam—repairing the world—demands more than words; it demands action. Jen Brock’s leadership shows us what that looks like: bold, grounded, smart, and unstoppable.

Let’s rally behind leaders like her—because the time is now. Whether through policy advocacy, public support, or simply spreading the word: the fight is real, the stakes are high, and we must act with both charm and grit to win.