On 10 April, Vineyard Wind held a “green” ribbon-cutting ceremony for its proposed offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) facility on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, and announced a partnership with local education institutions as part of its plan to prepare Massachusetts residents for careers in the offshore wind sector.
The developer of an 800MW offshore wind farm located some 14 miles from Martha’s Vineyard formally introduced the O&M base together with its community development partner Vineyard Power Cooperative.
Located on the working waterfront in Vineyard Haven, the O&M facility is expected to employ up to 40 people, while providing the island community with economic diversification and with additional resources to address climate change, ocean acidification and coastal erosion.
Looking at setting up a pool of skilled offshore wind professionals, Vineyard Power teamed up with the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, Adult Community Education MV and local community colleges for offshore wind career job training and education. The “blue economy” partnership will be developed through support from Vineyard Wind’s “Windward Workforce” fund, a USD 2 million initiative designed to help recruit, mentor, and train Massachusetts residents for careers in the Commonwealth’s new offshore wind industry, the developer stated.
Vineyard Wind announced its plans to invest USD 2 million in training locals for work at its proposed wind farm offshore Massachusetts at the end of February.
“Vineyard Wind is committed to ongoing collaborations with community-based organizations on important issues of shared interest,” said Erich Stephens , Chief Development Officer with Vineyard Wind. “Alliances like our partnership with Vineyard Power ensure that coastal communities will directly benefit from the abundant clean energy and related economic activity that is associated with offshore wind generation.”