United States Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm joined Governor Dan McKee, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Seth Magaziner, Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos, Steven King, Managing Director of QDC, many state legislators and energy stakeholders recently for a tour of the Block Island Wind Farm and a round table discussion at Quonset Business Park.
“We’re going to reach our 2030, our 2040 and our 2050 goals,” said McKee of the state’s emission reduction targets. “And our infrastructure is improving as a direct result of action in Washington.”
Secretary Granholm, Governor McKee and state leaders discussed the importance of the clean energy incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act as the Rhode Island works towards meeting ambitious energy goals. Steven King gave the panel an overview of the Port of Davisville’s $234.5 million Master Plan designed to position Davisville as a hub for the offshore wind industry in the northeast.
The Block Island Wind Farm became the first U.S. offshore wind farm in 2016. Numerous wind turbine components arrived in Rhode Island via the Port of Davisville, including steel jackets and over 28 miles of cable. In addition, Quonset served as the principal port for the project’s heavy installation vessels over a two-year span, while Quonset-based companies participated in every aspect of the project’s construction.
