(BOSTON, MA) – Vineyard Offshore today announced that Rick Umoff has joined the company as Director of Government Affairs for the West Coast, representing the company on matters associated with Vineyard Offshore’s floating offshore wind projects off the West Coast, principally the development of lease area OCS-P 0562, west of Humboldt Bay in Northern California.

In this position, Rick will be responsible for managing relations with California’s legislature and regulatory agencies, including the California Public Utilities Commission, California Independent System Operator, and the California Energy Commission. He will also engage in initial exploration of opportunities in Oregon, where the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is considering the auction of lease areas for offshore wind development.  

“We are excited to have Rick join the Vineyard Offshore team to represent the company for projects on the West Coast,” said Christian Scorzoni, VP and Head of External Affairs at Vineyard Offshore. “Rick is an experienced government affairs professional who is well known and well respected in Sacramento, having represented the solar power industry during its nation-leading growth in California. We are thrilled to have him helping us bring the clean energy and job benefits of floating offshore wind technology to the West Coast.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to take on this incredible opportunity,” stated Umoff. “Offshore wind is the next big piece of the puzzle for California to reach its goal of 100 percent clean energy. Winning one of the first leases off the California coast puts Vineyard Offshore in position to contribute toward the state’s target of 25 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2045. I look forward to working with legislators and regulators to help Vineyard Offshore develop its floating wind turbine project efficiently and responsibly, achieving climate goals and bringing economic and grid benefits to Humboldt County and California as a whole.”  

As Senior Director and Counsel, Rick led the Solar Energy Industries Association’s work growing solar deployment in California, the largest solar market in the United States. In that position, he managed SEIA’s legislative and regulatory initiatives. Rick also oversaw SEIA’s policy work in the Northeast and Midwest. Rick has broad experience working with state agencies and legislatures throughout the United States.  

Rick holds a J.D. from the University of San Francisco and a B.A. from the University of California at Santa Cruz. He is admitted to practice law in California, the District of Columbia, and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. He is based in San Francisco.