Rhode Island and Connecticut's First Utility-Scale Offshore Wind Project Ramping Up Offshore Construction Following Installation of First Wind Turbine Foundation
May 15 2024 08:00AM
RHODE ISLAND / CONNECTICUT – MAY 15, 2024 – Revolution Wind has achieved its “steel in the water” milestone with the installation of the project’s first turbine foundation, a momentous milestone for Rhode Island and Connecticut's first utility-scale offshore wind farm.
A centerpiece of the region’s blue economy, Ørsted and Eversource’s Revolution Wind is directly creating roughly 1,200 jobs across Rhode Island and Connecticut and accelerating the states’ clean energy sectors with significant investments in workforce development, union partnerships, shipbuilding, and port infrastructure.
Revolution Wind is the country’s first multi-state offshore wind project. Once in operation, it will generate 400 megawatts of clean, affordable offshore wind power for Rhode Island and 304 megawatts of the same for Connecticut, enough clean energy to power more than 350,000 homes across both states and bring each closer to reaching their ambitious climate targets.
"Rhode Island is all in on building a climate-resilient future, and the progress happening at our first utility-scale offshore wind farm is exciting and encouraging," said Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee. "Harnessing one of our state's most abundant natural resources will be a game-changer for our clean energy future and increasing good-paying jobs in this key economic sector."
"Offshore wind is a key player in Connecticut’s clean energy transition and future, as we work towards achieving a zero-carbon electric grid while delivering local investment and jobs at the same time,” said Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. “We are proud of the role Connecticut has played to-date in launching the industry for our country. Now, with Revolution Wind gearing up, we will see even more local jobs on the ground at State Pier and soon have more clean energy powering our state’s homes and businesses."
“America’s offshore wind industry is scaling up, and the first steel in the water at Revolution Wind is a tremendous milestone for Rhode Island and Connecticut’s clean energy journey,” said David Hardy, Group EVP and CEO Americas at Ørsted. “We’re building on our successful track record with the Block Island Wind Farm and South Fork Wind, and Revolution Wind can generate more than four times as much power as those two projects put together, demonstrating the enormous economic opportunity of offshore wind. Once again, we’re tapping the experience of our talented engineering and construction teams, and all our longtime local union and supply-chain partners to build this historic project for New England.”
“Revolution Wind is already putting local union workers to work on both the onshore transmission system in Quonset Business Park and the wind turbine marshaling at State Pier. The start of the offshore construction phase means even more well-paying jobs and investment in the region,” said Joe Nolan, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Eversource Energy. “We’re ready to deliver on our commitments to advance Connecticut and Rhode Island’s energy goals with this groundbreaking project.”
“This is another positive step toward cementing Rhode Island’s leadership in offshore wind and strengthening American energy independence and boosting our competitiveness in the race toward a cleaner energy future,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed. “Clean energy infrastructure projects like this bring good-paying jobs and environmental benefits and will help to reduce long-term energy costs for Rhode Islanders.”
“Workers at ProvPort and Quonset played a significant role in getting Revolution Wind to this major milestone, and the next construction phase will bring more well-paying Blue Economy jobs to Rhode Island,” said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “Revolution Wind is on track to power Ocean State homes and businesses with affordable clean energy on a large scale.”
“Offshore wind has enormous potential to create good-paying union jobs and save Rhode Islanders money on their electric bills, and this milestone marks an important step toward an affordable clean energy future,” said U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner.
“Successful deployment of offshore wind energy is the cornerstone of Rhode Island’s blue economy,” said U.S. Representative Gabe Amo. “By installing this first turbine foundation in the water, we are getting closer to delivering more affordable clean energy to Rhode Islanders, as well as good-paying jobs to our Ocean State.”
"As we confront the climate crisis, the need for clean energy has never been more urgent," said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. "Revolution Wind’s first foundation in the water brings offshore wind one step closer to reality for New England residents. This project will help Connecticut and Rhode Island meet clean energy goals by reducing emissions and powering over 350,000 homes, all while supporting hundreds of good paying union jobs across both states."
“Getting this foundation in the water is a huge milestone in our yearslong effort to make offshore wind a reality in Connecticut," said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy. "Not only will this project lower costs for consumers and deliver clean, affordable energy to thousands of people, but it’ll also generate hundreds of good-paying jobs and bring us one step closer to reaching our climate goals. This is a promising development, and I will continue working to support the success of offshore wind projects in our state."
“Thanks to the connected efforts of hundreds of local union building trades workers, Revolution Wind is well on its way to powering more than 350,000 homes across Connecticut and Rhode Island with cleaner energy while creating good-paying jobs across the economy,” said U.S. Representative Joe Courtney.
Revolution Wind has now embarked on a dynamic offshore construction phase, powered by hundreds of union workers, three Northeast ports, and a variety of vessels – all supporting work to install the wind farm’s foundations, two offshore substations, inter-array and export cables, and wind turbines. All the work is done according to Revolution Wind’s local, state and federal approvals.
Three New England ports are playing central roles in the effort to build Revolution Wind:
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- In New London, Connecticut, the first of Revolution Wind’s turbine components have started arriving at State Pier, the staging and marshaling port for the project, where they will be assembled by local union labor.
- In Providence, Rhode Island, crews are readying for loadout of advanced foundation components, which were built by local union labor at Ørsted and Eversource’s construction hub at ProvPort.
- Revolution Wind’s crew helicopters and Rhode Island-built crew transfer vessels are based out of that state’s Quonset Point.
“This significant milestone is another indication of Rhode Island’s momentum in the growing offshore wind industry,” said Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce Liz Tanner. “Revolution Wind is a perfect example of how states can collaborate on large-scale projects which will deliver long-term economic benefits – including good paying jobs and climate resilience for generations to come.”
"We are excited to see the progress of Revolution Wind and the deepening of the partnership between Connecticut and Rhode Island on clean energy and the clean economy," said State of Connecticut Chief Manufacturing Officer and Connecticut Wind Collaborative Board Chair Paul Lavoie. "We are working together to bring renewable energy and significant economic development to our region. This is a once in a generation opportunity to stand up a new industry and Connecticut and Rhode Island are leading the way."
"Today marks a major multi-year milestone with the installation of the first offshore wind turbine foundation at the Revolution Wind project site,” said Rhode Island Acting State Energy Commissioner Chris Kearns. “Building the nation’s first offshore wind farm, Rhode Island continues to lead in the clean energy sector. The Revolution Wind project is important in diversifying our long-term energy demands, advancing Act on Climate emission reductions and meeting our 100% renewable electricity objectives.”
“We are delighted to reach this important milestone on our path to a clean energy future,” said Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes. “The Revolution Wind project will supply zero carbon energy to Connecticut and Rhode Island, and provide critical winter reliability benefits to the entire region. We expect the success of this collaboration between Connecticut and Rhode Island to be a model for additional regional clean energy efforts.”
“We congratulate Orsted and Eversource on achieving the ‘steel in the water’ milestone for Revolution Wind,” said Chris Waterson, CEO of Waterson Terminal Services. “As managers of ProvPort, WTS has been preparing for this day for many years. We are proud to provide critical expertise to the supply chain, including the manufacturing of Advanced Foundation Components, offshore vessel support services, and installation of subsea cables that will deliver clean energy to Rhode Island and Connecticut.”
"Revolution Wind is a great example of how multi-state collaboration can help deliver significant local and regional economic and community benefits while advancing clean energy goals across multiple states,” said Connecticut Port Authority Executive Director Ulysses Hammond. “It also demonstrates how having the necessary port infrastructure in place is critical for delivering projects and advancing the industry, and we are proud of New London State Pier’s role in yet another historic project. Activity is ramping up on site and with it comes more local union workforce jobs, more workers frequenting establishments in the New London area, and economic impact throughout the region."
"Today's milestone would not have been possible without the hardworking tradesmen and women who are making our clean energy future a reality,” said Michael F. Sabitoni, General Secretary-Treasurer of the Laborers International Union of North America and President of Rhode Island’s Building & Construction Trades Council. “Union labor is launching New England into a new era in offshore wind infrastructure, and that starts right here with Revolution Wind. We look forward to continuing to bring our talent and dedication to this project as construction moves forward over the coming months."
During the offshore construction period, construction and transport barges, cable installation vessels, tugboats, supply and support vessels, and protected species observer monitor vessels will be active at the offshore site. Vessel operators, engineers, welders, scientists, and dozens of others are involved in this operation. Meanwhile, onshore construction continues in North Kingstown, R.I., on the project’s transmission system.
This past weekend, America’s offshore wind supply chain marked another major milestone with the christening of the first-ever American-built, owned, and crewed offshore wind service operations vessel, the ECO EDISON. Built by more than 600 workers at shipyards in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, and with components sourced from 34 states, the ECO EDISON will play an integral role operating and maintaining Ørsted and Eversource’s offshore wind projects in the Northeast, including Revolution Wind.
The Revolution Wind project site, roughly 15 miles south of the Rhode Island coast and 32 miles southeast of the Connecticut coast, is adjacent to Ørsted and Eversource’s South Fork Wind, America’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm. Revolution Wind is expected to be in operation in 2025.
About Ørsted
A global clean energy leader, Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and land-based wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, and bioenergy plants. Ørsted was the first energy company in the world to have its science-based net-zero emissions target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and is recognized as the world’s most sustainable energy developer in the Corporate Knights Global 100 index.
In the United States, the company has approximately 700 employees and a portfolio of clean energy assets and partnerships that includes offshore wind energy, land-based wind energy, solar, battery storage and e-fuels. Ørsted is a U.S. leader in offshore wind energy with approximately 3 gigawatts in development and operates both America’s first offshore wind farm, located off the coast of Block Island, and the country’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm, South Fork Wind. Ørsted has a total U.S. land-based capacity of 5 gigawatts across wind, solar, storage technologies and e-fuels. To learn more about the Ørsted U.S. business, visit us.orsted.com or follow the company on X (@OrstedUS), Instagram, and Facebook.
About Eversource
Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2024 and recognized as a Five-Year Champion, appearing in every edition of the list. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to approximately 4.4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,900 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook,Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.
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