Paul Phifer

Permitting & Development Director

As the Permitting & Development Director at Attentive Energy, Paul will lead the offshore wind permitting and external affairs strategies to ensure delivery of key project milestones. He will be responsible for scoping, development, and management of the project’s permitting schedule, budget, risk management to secure federal, state, and local permits for offshore wind projects. He will also be responsible for development and execution of critical external affairs and outreach strategies, including community and stakeholder engagement, governmental affairs, as well as overall public positioning within the market.

Prior to joining Attentive Energy, Paul served as the Permitting Manager for Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind – a Joint Venture between Shell New Energies and EDF-Renewables – for 2.5 years, stationed out of the Boston, Massachusetts office. During this time, Paul was responsible for all the federal, state, and local permits required for three Offshore Wind Lease Areas.

Prior to joining Atlantic Shores, Paul spent 20 years working for the US federal government, at both the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Department of State. At the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Paul managed a large team working across 13 states and the District of Columbia on environmental permitting, including issues associated with endangered species and ecological restoration. With the US Department of State, Paul negotiated environmental treaties at the United Nations on genetically modified organisms and invasive species.

Paul holds a PhD in Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota as well as a B.A . in Philosophy from the Boston College of Massachusetts.