The Department of Commerce announced Katie Westfall has been appointed as a senior advisor at NOAA Fisheries to focus on offshore wind, improving permitting efficiency and enhancing external coordination.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration collaborates with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and other federal and state agencies to facilitate offshore wind development, meeting President Joe Biden’s goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030 while promoting ocean co-use and biodiversity protection, according to a Feb. 27 news release.
“I am thrilled to welcome Katie to Fisheries. Her experience and perspective will add strength to our team as we work to responsibly develop offshore wind as part of the Biden-Harris administration's strategy to combat climate change,” NOAA Fisheries Administrator Janet Coit said in the release.
Westfall brings 15 years of experience in natural resource conservation, environmental policy, science, politics and communications, according to the release.
Before joining NOAA Fisheries, she worked for seven years at the Environmental Defense Fund, where she served as senior director of Resilient Fisheries, the release reported. She collaborated with stakeholders that included fishermen, industry representatives, technology providers, researchers, policymakers and supply chain actors to improve the sustainability, economic performance and resilience of wild capture fisheries through technology, science, policy and research solutions.
Her appointment at NOAA Fisheries as a senior advisor will enhance the agency’s role in improving offshore wind permitting efficiency and external coordination, the release reported. NOAA is committed to developing offshore wind energy while promoting biodiversity protection and ocean co-use, collaborating with various stakeholders and agencies. She brings extensive experience in natural resource conservation, environmental policy, science, politics and communications to her new role.
“In taking on this new role, I will remain dedicated to fostering durable, science-based and inclusive policy solutions for combating climate change and conserving and managing marine resources,” Westfall said in the release.
