NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. – On Monday, July 27, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Abigail Ross Hopper will celebrate an historic “steel in the water” milestone to mark the start of construction for the nation’s first commercial offshore wind farm. Secretary Jewell will join Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo, the state’s congressional delegation and representatives of Deepwater Wind – the project developers – for a ferry ride to the Block Island Wind Farm construction site, where they will perform a ribbon cutting.
Spurring responsible development of offshore wind energy is part of a series of Obama Administration actions to increase renewable energy both offshore and onshore by improving coordination with state, local and federal partners. Deepwater Wind is constructing a five-turbine, 30-megawatt wind facility in state waters about three nautical miles southeast of Block Island. The project, scheduled to be online in 2016, is expected to power about 17,000 homes and will provide electricity to Block Island and communities on the Rhode Island mainland.
Who
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Abigail Ross Hopper, Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Jack Reed, U.S. Senator
Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Senator
Jim Langevin, U.S. Congressman
David Cicilline, U.S. Congressman
Gina M. Raimondo, Governor of Rhode Island
Jeffrey Grybowski, Deepwater Wind CEO
Grover Fugate, Executive Director, Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council
What
Ferry tour and celebration of nation’s first offshore wind farm
When
Monday, July 27, 2015
1:15 p.m. EDT – Press availability on shore
Where
Rhode Island Fast Ferry Terminal
1347 Roger Williams Way
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Media
Due to limited space aboard the vessel, please RSVP here by 6 PM EDT Friday, July 24, if you are interested in attending a press availability following the ferry tour.
Source: Department of Interior
