The Danish energy company Orsted, which acquired Deepwater Wind last year, announced on Tuesday that Jeffrey Grybowski is stepping down as co-chief executive officer of Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind. He will consult for Orsted as a senior adviser while exploring a startup business venture, according to the company.
Mr. Grybowski is transitioning into his new role a decade after joining Deepwater Wind, the Rhode Island company that built the five-turbine Block Island Wind Farm, which is the nation’s first offshore wind farm, and proposed the South Fork Wind Farm, a 15-turbine installation to be constructed approximately 35 miles east of Montauk. The latter project is under examination by federal, state, and local authorities.
“A decade ago, I started on this quest to establish a prominent place for offshore wind in America’s energy future,” Mr. Grybowski said in a statement. “Rhode Island provided the leadership with the first project, and I’m proud to say that offshore wind’s time is now here. I am honored to have played a role in making that happen. Orsted is a world-class company and one of the leaders in creating a green energy future for our world. With Orsted’s leadership, offshore wind in America has a bright future.”
Shortly after Orsted acquired Deepwater Wind and rebranded it Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind, it took on the Connecticut company Eversource as a partner, the latter acquiring a 50-percent stake in the South Fork Wind Farm and other proposed projects. Last Thursday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the selection of the companies’ joint venture known as Sunrise Wind, an 880-megawatt wind farm to be constructed in the same federal lease area in which the South Fork Wind Farm is to be sited.
With the merger largely complete and with recent wins in competitive bids, Mr. Grybowski felt it was time, after a decade, to move on to something new, an Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind spokeswoman said.
Mr. Grybowski worked with Thomas Brostrom, chief executive of Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind and president of Orsted North America, to integrate the people and projects of the Danish energy giant’s global operation following Orsted’s acquisition of Deepwater Wind. “Jeff is one of the pioneers of the offshore wind industry in the U.S., and his achievements are respected across the industry,” Mr. Brostrom, who retains his titles, said. “He built an outstanding company at Deepwater Wind and we thank him for his contributions in helping Orsted build the leading offshore wind platform in America. We wish him great success in the next phase of his journey.”