Proposed legislation has been introduced to both chambers of the US Congress that would establish a federal grant programme to help train and educate workers for the offshore wind industry.
The Offshore Wind Jobs and Opportunity Act would provide $25m annually from fiscal year 2020 through to 2024 to support training and education.
Funds could be used to help finance a variety of educational activities, including training for current workers and apprentices, individual tuition assistance for a post-secondary credential and other activities addressing the industry’s workforce needs.
Grant applicants from serving veterans or people with various barriers to employment would be prioritised under the proposals.
The Act was introduced to the Senate by Tom Carper (Democrat-Delaware), Edward Markey (Democrat-Massachusetts), Susan Collins (Republican-Maine) and Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat-Rhode Island).
In the House of Representatives, Democrats Donald McEachin (Virginia), Bill Keating (Massachusetts), Joseph Kennedy III (Massachusetts), Alan Lowenthal (California) and Donald Norcross (New Jersey) introduced the proposed legislation.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind president and managing director Chris Hart urged support for the legislation while at a Congressional hearing on the bills.
He told the House Natural Resources Committee that “if the US offshore wind industry is to meet our mission of delivering safe, sustainable energy, we will need to hire many more workers, and these jobs will require hard hats and specific skillsets acquired with the proper training”.
Hart said the proposed legislation would foster collaboration between the Interior Department, offshore developers, local governments and labour groups to ensure individuals can obtain skills and training necessary to compete in the global industry.