Home Economy Economic Activity Construction commences on Quonset’s new offshore wind pier

Construction commences on Quonset’s new offshore wind pier

By

Jacquelyn Voghel

-

08/15/2024

image_2024-08-14_171507652 — STATE AND QUONSET OFFICIALS gathered at the Port of Davisville on Wednesday morning to celebrate the construction of a new pier serving offshore wind vessels. From left, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, Sen. Jack Reed, Gov. Daniell McKee, Quonset Managing Director Steven J. King, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep. Seth Magaziner, General Treasurer James Diossa, State Sen. Alana DiMario, North Kingstown Town Councilman Matt McCoy, North Kingstown Town Manager Ralph Mollis and State Rep. Robert Craven Sr. / QUONSET DEVELOPMENT CORP.

NORTH KINGSTOWN – As Quonset Development Corp.’s Port of Davisville gears up to serve the region’s offshore wind industry, construction kicked off Wednesday on Quonset’s first new port in nearly 70 years. The Terminal 5 Pier and Blue Economy Support Docks, part of a $234 million master plan for the Port of Davisville, will accommodate

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NORTH KINGSTOWN – As Quonset Development Corp.'s Port of Davisville gears up to serve the region's offshore wind industry, construction kicked off Wednesday on Quonset's first new port in nearly 70 years. The Terminal 5 Pier and Blue Economy Support Docks, part of a $234 million master plan for the Port of Davisville, will accommodate offshore wind vessels with specialized berthing and docking infrastructure. The new port infrastructure “will allow Quonset to keep up with rising demand while positioning Quonset – and Rhode Island – as a key offshore wind hub in the North Atlantic,” said QDC Managing Director Steven J. King, who joined state officials for a piledriving ceremony Wednesday morning. State Fiscal Recovery Funds, allocated to Rhode Island under the American Rescue Plan Act, will fully fund the Terminal 5 Pier and Blue Economy Support Docks project. Public officials joined King in welcoming the new port, with House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi calling the Port of Davisville “a key asset in our Blue and Green Economies and a cornerstone of industry in our state,” as well as a resource in meeting sustainability goals. “Rhode Island is leading the way in environmental initiatives: Our landmark Act on Climate set forth a series of ambitious, enforceable climate emissions reduction mandates,” Shekarchi said in a statement. “As we move toward our goals of a state government powered by 100% renewable electricity by 2033 and net-zero emissions by 2050,” he continued, “we must increase our capacity for clean energy and offshore wind.” Elizabeth M. Tanner, R.I Secretary of Commerce and a QDC board member, called the project “a strategic investment in our state’s maritime infrastructure. “This project will not only strengthen our position as a leader in offshore wind, but it will create jobs and boost our economy for years to come," Tanner said. The Port of Davisville has seen a busy 2024 so far, Quonset offiials say: Compared to the first half of 2023, the port recorded a 51% increase in auto imports in the first six months of 2024, according to Quonset data. The port saw this increase in cargo in part due to the temporary closure of the Port of Baltimore, which shut down for about two months following a bridge collapse that killed six construction workers. But imports also increased independently of the cargo rerouted from Baltimore, King previously told PBN. Davisville has already served 39 offshore wind vessels, King said, “while supporting projects like Revolution Wind and South Fork.” The Revolution Wind project, located about 70 miles off Point Judith, will provide renewable energy to Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, while South Fork is located 15 miles east of Block Island and will provide renewable energy to New York. Jacquelyn Voghel is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at Voghel@PBN.com.