Rep. Magaziner and House Natural Resources Committee Host Members of Congress in Rhode Island for Offshore Wind Education Sessions

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) hosted several Members of Congress at the University of Rhode Island for a series of panels related to offshore wind, followed by a tour of the Block Island Wind Farm.

“Offshore wind has tremendous potential to lower energy costs, reduce dependence on foreign oil, create good-paying clean energy jobs, and help clean our air and water,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02). “With thoughtful planning and community input, we can unleash the power of offshore wind while minimizing the impact on marine life and local industries, fight climate change and put more money in the pockets of Rhode Islanders.”

The programming featured three discussions with panels of experts on the following topics: 1) The Current State and Future Potential of Offshore Wind; 2) Balancing Multiple Ocean Uses: Protecting Fisheries, Marine Life, and Affected Communities; and 3) Workforce Needs and Opportunities for Frontline Communities.

Following the education sessions, the Members of Congress traveled by boat to view the Block Island Wind Farm, the first commercial wind farm in the United States which now powers 17,000 homes in Rhode Island with clean energy. Now that the wind farm is able to cover 100% of power consumption, Block Island no longer burns an annual 1 million gallons of diesel.

In March 2021, the Biden administration announced its goal to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. Deploying 30 GW of offshore wind capacity will trigger more than $12 billion per year in capital investments, create 44,000 direct and 33,000 indirect jobs, and generate enough electricity to power 10 million American homes.

Members of Congress in attendance included host U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries; Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations; Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Founder and co-chair of the House Offshore Wind Caucus; Deborah Ross (NC-02), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on the Environment and founder and co-chair of the House Offshore Wind Caucus; Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; and Gabe Amo (RI-01), Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

The Members of Congress heard from experts, stakeholders and leaders in clean energy, conservation, workforce development, seafood and private industry. 

Panel 1: The Current State and Future of Offshore Wind

• Ms. Anne Reynolds, Vice President for Offshore Wind, American Clean Power
• Mr. David Ortiz, Head of Government Affairs & Market Strategy, Northeast, Ørsted
• Mr. Cristopher Kearns, Acting Energy Commissioner, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

Panel 2: Balancing Multiple Ocean Uses: Protecting Fisheries, Marine Life, and Affected Communities

• Dr. David Bidwell, Professor, Department of Marine Affairs, University of  Rhode Island
• Mr. Gary Yerman, Owner and President, New London Seafood Distributors
• Mr. Jeffrey Willis, Executive Director, Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council

Panel 3: Workforce Needs and Opportunities for Frontline Communities

• Ms. Priscilla De La Cruz, Co-Chair, Climate Jobs Rhode Island
• Mr. Andrew Cortés, Founder and Executive Director, Rhode Island Building Futures
• Mr. David M. Langlais, Business Manager/FST Local 37, VP Rhode Island Building Trades, Ironworkers Local 37
• Ms. Lenore Friedlaender, Executive Director, Climate Jobs New York