PROVIDENCE – Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind and Eversource pledged $4.5 million Monday to talent and workforce development in Rhode Island based on the Revolution Wind project. The funds are in addition to the $40 million in investments the company has made and will make in local ports as part of its proposed power purchase agreement with National Grid Rhode Island.
The company’s made the announcement alongside Gov. Gina M. Raimondo at the Rhode Island Statehouse Monday morning.
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Of the newly pledged funds, $3 million will be earmarked to the University of Rhode Island for investment in higher education related to offshore wind programs to train students in the wind industry. URI will use the investments to work in partnership with other Rhode Island institutions.
“Ørsted and Eversource’s commitments, as part of their Revolution Wind offshore wind farm, will expand our efforts already underway to build our talent pool and provide opportunities for college students in Rhode Island to study for a career in offshore wind,” said Raimondo in prepared remarks. “When they are ready to work, we will have plenty of jobs for them in our growing offshore wind supply chain, right here in Rhode Island.”
The remaining $1.5 million will be allocated to the R.I. Commerce Corp. and the R.I. Department of Labor and Training for supply chain development and the Wind Win RI workforce program, part of Real Jobs Rhode Island initiative.
“Revolution Wind is the exciting next chapter for offshore wind in the state that launched this new American industry,” said Ørsted US Offshore Wind Co-CEO Jeffrey Grybowski in a press release. “We stand ready to make major investments in our home state to make sure Rhode Island students, and the state’s supply chain, are ready for this new clean-jobs sector.”
The 400 megawatt project’s power purchase agreement with National Grid is currently being reviewed by the R.I. Public Utilities Commission.
Last week, The Mass. Department of Public Utilities approved the PPA between Vineyard Wind LLC and power distributors in the Bay State.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. You may reach him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
