Ørsted Announces Key Hires for North American Land-based and Power-to-X Businesses and Dedicated Tribal Affairs Lead

BOSTON – Ørsted, a U.S. clean energy leader, has announced three hires reflecting the company’s growing renewable energy portfolio and the importance of establishing valuable relationships with communities.

Susan Sloan serves as Head of Government Affairs and Market Strategy, Onshore, while Marcus Woodson joins as Government Affairs Lead for Power-to-X. John Morseau leads the company’s engagement with Tribes and native communities as Tribal Relations Lead.

“The buildout of clean energy projects to combat climate change depends on smart policy and successful relationships with federal, state, local, and tribal governments,” said Pamela Venzke, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, North America, at Ørsted. “Ørsted understands the need to develop projects responsibly with input from and in two-way partnerships with policymakers and governments to ensure we create jobs, generate economic opportunity and provide clean energy that meets or exceeds the values of our communities.”

Based in Austin, Texas, Susan Sloan will set and shape Ørsted’s legislative and regulatory agenda for the company’s North American Onshore business, supporting development of land-based wind, solar and storage projects. Sloan is a Texas native with deep experience in the renewable energy industry, including 15 years with the American Wind Energy Association (now American Clean Power Association), where she built and led the State Affairs program. She has worked extensively in Texas, including co-founding the advocacy organization Solar Austin, and representing the Wind Coalition at the Texas capitol in a successful campaign to increase the use of renewable energy. Most recently, Susan was the Associate Director of Government Affairs for EDP Renewables North America.

“Ørsted’s growing footprint of land-based wind, solar and storage projects in over a dozen states means we are investing in communities across the United States,” said Sloan. “We want to be recognized as a good neighbor and a welcome partner in states, counties and municipalities where we do business. I’m excited to be on the Ørsted team to create constructive dialogue with government leaders to advance policies that enable responsible and successful clean energy development.”

Marcus Woodson is based in Washington, DC and will engage policymakers and stakeholders in the nation’s capital, and in state capitals around the country, advocating for policies and programs to advance Ørsted’s growing power-to-x business. Woodson is an attorney with 15 years of experience providing strategic policy and legal guidance to Members of Congress, C-Suite executives, and clients. He spent seven years as the Government Relations Officer for Sandia National Laboratories, where he advised the lab’s executive team and was a major player in the lab’s mission realignment, which added alternative energy sources as a focal point. Most recently, Marcus served as the Chief Strategist and Founder of Black Lake Strategies. 

“Ørsted is at the vanguard of green hydrogen and I'm happy to join the power-to-X team at this important juncture in the clean energy economy,” said Woodson. “Decarbonizing heavy industry, heavy transportation, maritime vessels, and manufacturing e-fuel will address some of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases and further support global climate goals. Ørsted's commitment to sustainability and a clean energy future is important to me both professionally and personally. As a father of two young children, it is important to me that the global economy reduces its carbon emissions in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.”

John Morseau is based in Boston, Massachusetts and will lead engagement and outreach efforts to and partnership development with Tribal Nations and Tribal Organizations in support of Ørsted’s clean energy projects across the company’s North American portfolio. Morseau is a citizen of the Pokégnek Bodéwadmik, Pokagon Band of Potawatomi with a demonstrated commitment to serving Indian Country. Prior to joining Ørsted, he served as Tribal Council Treasurer for the Pokagon Band as well as Pokagon Gaming Authority Board Treasurer where he worked to navigate Tribal operations and finances through the COVID-19 pandemic. Morseau earned a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law where he studied Federal Indian Law and applied that knowledge to represent Native American clients.

“The offshore wind industry is at a critical point as projects advance and additional wind energy areas become available for development. This industry can no longer afford to confine Tribal interests to the late stages of the permitting process. Tribes possess valuable knowledge and experience gained from centuries of being stewards of the lands and waters across Turtle Island and we should embrace early partnership opportunities,” Morseau said. “Ørsted recognizes the importance of partnering with Tribal Nations throughout project development, and I’m excited to lead Ørsted’s tribal outreach and engagement efforts.”

About Ørsted

The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. A global clean energy leader, Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, and bioenergy plants. Ørsted is the only energy company in the world with a science-based net-zero emissions target as validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. Four years in a row, the company was ranked the world’s most sustainable energy company by Corporate Knights.

In the United States, the company has over 600 employees and a growing portfolio of clean energy assets and partnerships that includes offshore wind energy, onshore wind energy, solar and storage technologies. A leader across the renewable energy sector in the United States, Ørsted holds the top position in offshore wind energy with approximately 5 gigawatts in development and operates America’s first offshore wind farm, located off the coast of Block Island. Ørsted has a total U.S. onshore capacity of 4.4 GW across wind, solar and storage technologies. To learn more about the Ørsted U.S. business, visit us.Ørsted.com or follow the company on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@ØrstedUS).