Deepwater Wind managing director <br>Lanard departs to head wind coalition

PROVIDENCE – A Deepwater Wind managing director has left the company to lead a national coalition of offshore wind farm developers.
Jim Lanard told Providence Business News he departed Deepwater Wind on June 30 to take the presidency of the Offshore Wind Development Coalition. The group, announced Wednesday, is a consortium of seven developers that wish to keep an eye on federal energy policy, Lanard said. Coalition members include Deepwater Wind – the company proposing two wind farms off the coast of Rhode Island – as well as Cape Wind, the developer planning a wind farm in Nantucket Sound.
The group plans to work closely with the separate American Wind Energy Association to represent the interests of wind farm developers before the federal government, Lanard said. The coalition will, however, have a narrower focus than the association, which represents both land-based and offshore wind farm developers.
“This gives us the freedom to make sure our voice is heard too,” Lanard said of offshore developers.
Lanard joined Deepwater Wind in April 2009 and the New Jersey-based company released a brief statement in the wake of his departure.
“Deepwater Wind is proud to be a founding member of this coalition,” Deepwater Wind Chief Development Officer Paul Rich said. “We’re confident Jim will provide leadership and advocacy on behalf of America’s burgeoning offshore wind industry.”
Deepwater Wind spokeswoman Meaghan Wims could not immediately say if the company planned to fill Lanard’s position.
Lanard arrived at Deepwater after serving as head of strategic planning at competitor Bluewater Wind. His most recent jump to the coalition came almost by accident. Lanard said he had recruited someone to head the coalition and then the individual dropped out.
“I had been so excited about it, and I thought about doing it myself,” Lanard said.
The new coalition will be based in Washington, D.C.