Leading Light Wind, an American-led offshore wind project in the New York Bight, announced three initiatives to establish Staten Island as a hub for the American offshore wind industry. The first is a $900,000 partnership with CUNY College of Staten Island to develop the next generation of offshore wind workforce; an Offshore Wind Scholars Program to connect students across the region to career opportunities in the offshore wind industry; and a plan to conduct turbine pre-assembly and marshaling activities at the proposed Arthur Kill Terminal (AKT) facility in Richmond Valley in Staten Island.
Leading Light Wind’s $900,000 investment with CUNY College of Staten Island is to advance offshore wind education and workforce development in Staten Island, scaling programs related to renewable energy and technology innovation; and incorporate offshore wind education into existing programs at the CUNY College of Staten Island.
Second, the partnership announcement spotlights the launch of the Leading Light Wind Offshore Wind Scholars Program, which will sponsor college students from the area to attend renewable energy conferences and serve as the project’s program for engaging youth to foster the education and career pipelines the clean energy economy requires.
“CUNY College of Staten Island is delighted to partner with Leading Light Wind to train and educate students to join the growing offshore wind industry in New York City and State,” said Timothy G. Lynch, interim president of College of Staten Island. “This partnership represents an important opportunity for our students to benefit from hands-on experience, gain exposure at industry events and hear directly from industry veterans. The launch of the Leading Light Wind Offshore Wind Scholars Program is transformative for all New York City college students, and we are excited to be the first school to partner with Leading Light Wind.”
The Leading Light Wind Offshore Wind Scholars Program will start by sponsoring students from CUNY College of Staten Island to attend the International Offshore Wind Partnering Forum, the largest offshore wind conference in the United States, that begins on March 28, 2023. The program will continue to bring unique opportunities and programming to students with an interest in learning about the clean energy transition and career pathways in the offshore wind industry.
“We have to start investing in STEM education and workforce training today to ensure that New Yorkers are ready for the coming offshore wind boom. That is why our partnership with the CUNY College of Staten Island is critical to train, educate and equip capable New Yorkers with the skills necessary to enter the green jobs economy upon graduation,” said Wes Jacobs, project director of Leading Light Wind. “We applaud the state and city’s leadership in directing resources to Staten Island to catalyze education and training in the offshore wind industry and are proud to bolster these efforts with our own partnership with CUNY CSI.”
Through its recently submitted bid in New York State’s third offshore wind solicitation for Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificates (NY3), Leading Light Wind outlined a plan to use AKT — a proposed state-of-the-art offshore wind facility, for its port and marshaling activities. Leading Light Wind included AKT across its Supply Chain Investment Plan proposals and aims to revitalize the working waterfront and provide local job opportunities in Staten Island, if selected by NYSERDA.
The partnership with CUNY College of Staten Island is part of Leading Light Wind’s $300 million community benefits program. In addition to CUNY College of Staten Island, Leading Light Wind also entered into six community partnerships as part of the project’s bid to New York to advance a holistic vision for the community and provide far reaching economic benefits.
These partnerships include the Waterfront Alliance, CUNY Offshore Wind Advisory Network, Gotham Whale, the Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation, the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (the Waterfront Pathways Program and newly proposed Lift All Boats fund to support small businesses). Through these partnerships, Leading Light Wind aims to create a more sustainable and inclusive future for the Empire State.
News item from Leading Light Wind
Filed Under: News, Offshore wind, Projects