> THE Ca. TIMES May 2.2015 First peek at the B.I. Wind Farm “Raimondo, members af Congress visit By Cassius Shuman Seven years ago former Gov. Donald Carcieri first introduced the idea of utiliz- ing offshore wind power to supply a per centage of the Ocean State’s energy needs. On Monday, April 27, the first glimpse ‘at some of the parts of the wind turbines ‘was seen by a group of elected officials, as well asa contingent from Block Island. Deepwater Wind CEO Jeff Grybowski, Gow. Gina Raimondo, US. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, as well as US. Reps. Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, toured the local construction site at Quonset Point in North Kingstown With about 50 people packed into a tent az the entrance to the warehouse facility Specialty Diving Services (SDS) where railings, ladders and platforms were being assembled, Grybowski, Rainiondo. and others lauded the developer's efforts and said it was good to se¢ local people work- ing on the project. “Welcome to the start of something big said Grybowski. “It's a very impor Deepwater Wind CEO Jeff Grybowski, Gov. ‘Gina laimondo and the R.. Congressional Delegation lauded construction of the Block Island Wind Farm at Quonset Point facilty ‘event on Apt 27. Proras av Cassis Sten ‘tant day. We're here today to celebrate the beginning of a world class renewable ‘energy project. We're celebrating more than just an offshore wind fare, even ‘hough it is the first (in the nation), We're celebrating the beginning of a new U.S. industry.” Grybowski said that Raimondo has See Wind Farm, Page 12Wind Farm Continued from Page I been a “passionate proponent of igniting: ‘our economy, ereating jobs” und “building, up the Rhode Island brand again, making it ‘a proud andl innovative brand.” “I think that Deepwater Wind repre sents what is $0 greal about Rhode Istand, and what we have the potential to be doing,” said Raimondo, “This is an oppor- ‘unity to ereate jobs, in a new industry, in-a rowth industry. I's the first projeet ofits ‘kind in the country?” Raimondo said she wants Rhode Island to be an easier and less expensive place to do business. She also said the state is going, to “build out the ecosystem of wind and ‘renewable energy, but rebrand ourselves 1s being more innovative, and over time, make Rhode Island a place that has Tower energy costs, diversified energy supply and greener energy.” “To all of my friends in the build- ing trade, in front of me and behind me, it's about time we gét you to work,” said Raimondo, referring, 10 the Quonset Point facility's laborers and executives. “Three hundred jobs are going to be created right here on this project, and that is a wonderful thing for you and for your families. And hopefully it's sign of even more to-come.” “There are a few dozen workers: here at SDS.” said Grybowski. “They're really the leading cdge of this project. Gver the course ofthis project we will employ about 330 construction workers in Rhode Island. ‘And they're going to be involved in essen- tially every aspect of this project.” Grybowski noted that the wind farm's construction laborers will be changed with building the foundations, assembling, the five wind turbines, laying the eable, run- ning the vessels and Tong term project maintenance. “This is just the start of something much bigger,” he said. “We're going to employ lots of people right here in the Ocean State.” Deepwater Wind presented a timeline for the project that details the next steps in the Block Island wind farm construc- tion process, With the launch of the local construction phase on April 27 at the SDS warehouse facility, officials were touting the Quonset Point industrial park as a potential hub for offshore wind energy in the United States. “Today Rhode Island is leading the way” said Sen, Reed, “This is great for the mation and for the furure of Rhode Island. It’s about saving our environment, ‘Quonset will become a hub for this type of industry.” Reed said that he and Whitehouse, as ‘well as Congressmen Langevin and David Ciciline, who were in attendance, “were helpful in setting the stage” by raising $20 plus million in investment in Quonset Point” 10 create the infrastructure so the project-could be built at the SDS warehouse facility. Reed was alluding to the $22.3 mile ion U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) gram that the Quonset Development Corporation received in 2010-for road, pier, and freight improvements to inerease the port's capacity. Whitchouse said that Rhode Island has “sailed” past other states in the quest for offshore wind energy, notably Delaware and Massachusetts, because of the implementation of the Ocean Special ‘Area Management plan and the coop: eration between the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and the University of Rhode Island. Whitehouse said he hoped that the ‘Quonset Point SDS facility “isn't just the place where the five Block Island wind“will be crected this coming summer, start- ing around July 18, three miles off the southeast coast of Block Island, signaling ‘the first phase of offshore construction ofthe wind farm. State Sen, Susan Sosnowski, who rep- resents Block Island, said that she was “sa happy” sbout the lausch of construction that she was “jumping up 1 “Tm just so excited are here to celebrate this,” said Sosnowski. “Jeff was. there with me in the very beginning (with this project), This moves Rhode Island toward greater energy independence. My ‘constituents on Block Island are among the ‘most environmentally eanscious people int the nation, yet as you know they get their energy from a dirty, diesel polluting power plant. And they pay a premium for it, some ‘of the highest prices in the nation. So this project is going t change that.” Several Block Island officials attended, including Second Warden Norris Pike, and Electric Utilities Task Group members Bill Penn and Everett Shorey, who all donned hard hats and toured the construction facil ity, “They have a lot of good working space “here,” said Pike, "Good, qualified guys. I'm ‘optimistic they'Il do a real good job. I's eee but for ‘the country.” “I think it's as close to groundbreaking -as you'll ever see,” said Shorey. “It looks like it's a reality. I's going to happen. We've thought about this as a Block Island ‘project, but it's really clear that this is a ‘Rhode Island project” The Block Island wind farnt ison sched- ule to be the first offShore-wind firm in the country when it becomes operational in the fall of 2016.A laborer welding a companent of the Block Island wind farm at the Specialty Diving Services facility at Quonsct Point. Proro er Cassus Seuscr Second Warden Norris Pike toured the Specialty Diving Services facilty at Quonset Point in ‘North Kingstown on April 27. Puoro sv Cassus Sauman