Former senior U.S. Department of Energy official and seasoned advocacy strategist will lead external affairs across North American projects and opportunities

With heightened momentum in the U.S. offshore wind sector and expanding opportunities to engage with numerous stakeholders in the year ahead, EnBW North America today announced the addition of clean energy expert and strategist Damian Bednarz as the company’s External Affairs Director.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Damian Bednarz to lead EnBW North America’s efforts to collaborate with and learn from the many communities, organizations, and industries that share our ocean and coastal resources. Damian’s expertise will complement the diverse skill set of a top-notch staff we’ve put in place in Jersey City and Boston over the past year,” Managing Director Bill White said. “Damian’s experience in both clean energy engagement and federal energy policy makes him uniquely positioned to advance our work to further develop the vast potential of America’s new offshore wind energy industry.”

Prior to joining EnBW North America, Bednarz supported a full range of clean energy technology clients and initiatives at nationally ranked public affairs and communications firm Kivvit. There, Bednarz advised offshore wind entities and led several national and international climate advocacy campaigns. Before Kivvit, Damian Bednarz served in senior leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Energy, including Chief of Staff for the Office of International Affairs and White House Liaison.

“I’m excited to join this incredibly talented team and start sharing EnBW North America’s distinctive story,” Bednarz said. “Carefully developing offshore wind in the U.S. is a critical mission and it will take many citizens and groups to successfully expand local and regional economic opportunities while also meeting our shared climate and clean energy goals.”

Based out of the company's Jersey City office, Bednarz is responsible for overseeing all government, media, stakeholder, and community outreach efforts. Bednarz is a graduate of Marist College and received his masters from Seton Hall University.

Damian Bednarz joins additional members of EnBW North America’s core team including Permitting and Development Director Christen Wittman, New York Bight Project Director Karolina Pietrzak and Transmission Manager Jonathan Howie. Wittman, a civil engineer graduate from Tufts University, previously served as Offshore Wind Project Manager focused on ports and infrastructure, supply chain, and workforce development at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Pietrzak, an environmental and power engineer graduate from Warsaw University of Technology, joins the North American team from EnBW’s Hamburg office, where she led the company’s entrance into the U.S. offshore wind market. Howie, a mechanical engineer graduate from North Carolina State University, recently came from ABB, where he spent over a decade working on transmission and distribution power systems.

Link to EnBW US country profile