Climate jobs coalitions launch a report on building a worker-centered offshore wind industry in Southern New England
“I know, as we look ahead, that there’s uncertainty about the new administration, but I firmly believe that the fabric of this clean energy industry is strong,” said Governor Healey.
Climate Jobs coalitions in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut released a report calling for Southern New England to double down on offshore wind and go bigger and bolder on clean energy and high-quality union jobs.
By building a domestic, unionized, and thriving offshore wind industry, Southern New England has the power to address two of the region’s most pressing crises: climate change and inequality. The report comes when state leadership is more important than ever for clean energy to move forward. No state in the region is currently on track to meet climate or clean energy goals, and all can do more to combat inequality, meet increasing energy demand, and protect ratepayers.
On Tuesday, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey spoke at an event unveiling the report at the IBEW Local 223 facility in Taunton. There, union leaders from across three states moderated a panel discussion on the future of wind energy and climate change.
Speaking about the incoming Trump Administration and its potential negative effects on renewable energy industries, Governor Healey struck a note of optimism.
“I know, as we look ahead, that there’s uncertainty about the new administration, but I firmly believe that the fabric of this clean energy industry is strong,” said Governor Healey. “We have private corporations, research institutions, incredible unions and union leadership, and we have our friends in the environmental community who we credit for so much of the advocacy that helped us move to this place of understanding that we need to act now... We’re moving forward. It’s about teamwork, and it’s about partnership. That’s how we get things done. It is about teamwork, and for all the angst ... if we work together, we can really deliver for people.”
“Union labor is the foundation on which the offshore wind industry must be built,” said Rhode Island AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley. “In order to build a high-road clean energy industry that centers working people and takes on the climate crisis, we need strong labor standards and coordinated regional investments in a domestic supply chain. New England stands on the precipice of a new era of prosperity, one that can only be realized through organized labor.”
I asked President Crowley about his thoughts on the Trump Administration’s potential impact on the industry.
“I think we still have opportunities,” said President Crowley. “It’s going to be interesting to see what the difference is between campaign rhetoric and what reality is at the end of January. From our point of view, with so many jobs on the line, so much investment, and the promise of so much energy independence, there’s going to be an opportunity to have conversations with the incoming administration that I don’t think we’ve had yet.”
Here’s the video:
The report, written by Climate Jobs Rhode Island, Climate Jobs Massachusetts, Connecticut Roundtable on Climate Jobs, and the Climate Jobs National Resource Center, lays out the necessity of offshore wind in Southern New England, given land constraints and the region’s growing energy needs. It calls for investments in four cornerstones of the industry – ports, in-state manufacturing, transmission, and vessels – along with strong labor, equity, and community benefits standards to ensure that the economic benefits are felt throughout the region. By following these policy recommendations, the states can develop enough clean energy to supply their region and get back on track to meet climate goals. They can create inclusive, high-quality union jobs to provide New England communities stability, security, and prosperity.
“A worker-centered offshore wind industry is critically important for our region to fight the climate crisis and build the middle class at the same time,” said Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Chrissy Lynch. “This report makes it clear that more investment in offshore wind, with strong labor and equity standards, can strengthen our communities and help our states meet clean energy goals.”
“We must look at building clean energy not just as a problem to solve, but as an opportunity to take advantage of,” said Eric Hines, Professor of Practice, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Tufts University. “Under the right strategy, we can develop offshore wind in Southern New England in a way that meets our clean energy needs, makes our oceans healthier through nature-inclusive design, and spurs a domestic offshore wind supply chain that supports good jobs.”
Professor Hines gave a presentation about the promise of wind energy and conducted a panel with local union leaders. Here’s the video:
Key recommendations in the report include:
Increase the region’s offshore wind commitment from 9 to 30 gigawatts by 2040 to keep up with the rising demand for energy generation and establish itself as a national leader in offshore wind.
Invest in the four cornerstones of the offshore wind industry:
Ports: Upgrade the region’s ports to meet precise specifications to support offshore wind manufacturing, marshaling, construction, and operations and maintenance.
Manufacturing: Invest in offshore wind component manufacturing and support the development of a domestic supply chain for offshore wind, which can multiply offshore wind job creation by four while ensuring efficient delivery of necessary components and heading off project development delays due to disruptions in the global supply chain.
Transmission: Participate in the buildout of a planned interregional transmission system to integrate offshore wind power while enhancing offshore wind project economics for developers and providing significant savings to the public.
Vessels: Southern New England states should partner with the federal government and the shipbuilding industry to develop a plan to construct offshore wind turbine installation vessels (WTIVs) dedicated to the region’s offshore wind projects and also procure projects with different foundation types that do not require WTIVs.
Commit to comprehensive high-road labor and equity standards to ensure offshore wind projects and investments create high-quality, family-supporting union jobs that boost local economies.