Jobs & Economic Development Assessment

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center released the 2018 Massachusetts Offshore Wind Workforce Assessment, which examines the workforce needs and economic impact of the emerging offshore wind industry.

This report presents the results of a comprehensive workforce and economic analysis that estimates the labor needs and economic impacts associated with the planning, construction, and maintenance of offshore wind (OSW) energy in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island/Massachusetts Wind Energy Areas (WEAs). Informed by the experience of the OSW industry’s emergence in Europe, dozens of in-depth interviews, and a detailed economic analysis, this report is designed to provide state and regional policymakers with actionable recommendations they can use to maximize the economic benefits of the emerging OSW industry for Massachusetts, its communities, and its workforce.

The U.S. Job Creation in Offshore Wind report quantifies the job impacts of offshore wind development and specifies the types of jobs to be created. A high market scenario of 8,000 megawatts by 2030 would yield a peak of over 16,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) baseline jobs in the U.S. in 2028, with baseline jobs being ones for which there are no compelling reasons why the work would not be performed by U.S. workers. The jobs most likely to be performed in the U.S. include project development and management, supply and installation of electrical substations and subsea cable, and wind farm operation and maintenance. Additional jobs are also possible, with manufacturing jobs seen as the sector with the greatest potential. When the additional jobs that have a high or medium probability of being performed in the U.S. are included, the number of U.S. jobs would climb to over 36,000 FTE annually between 2026 and 2028. A low market scenario of 4,000 megawatts would create roughly half as many baseline jobs as the high scenario and a smaller proportion of high or medium probability jobs. The high scenario would also trigger more investment in new factories and vessels in the US.

The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $700,000 in funding for nine academic and research institutions across Massachusetts to advance studies relating to offshore wind development, building on the Commonwealth’s existing nation-leading offshore wind innovation activities. The funding will support three offshore wind research projects to identify industry workforce training and safety requirements; establish a multi-university partnership focused on innovation and driving down costs; and develop a new technique to monitor the structural health of wind blades. http://www.masscec.com/about-masscec/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-700000-funding-offshore-wind-research

• The first available empirical data on the effects of a U.S. offshore wind farm on coastal recreation and tourism.
• A suite of indicators that can be used to assess the potential effects of future offshore wind energy projects throughout the U.S.
• A recommended subset of indicators that can be used to monitor the effects of the wind farm on Rhode Island’s recreation and tourism activities moving forward.

These three results will help BOEM plan for the installation and management of future offshore wind energy projects in federal waters. https://www.boem.gov/AT-16-x23/

The purpose is to assess the estimated economic impact of a 40 MW demonstration offshore wind farm off South Carolina, including electric rate impacts.

Baltimore County has applied for a $26 million federal grant to support infrastructure upgrades at the former Sparrows Point shipyard to accommodate assembly, fabrication and shipping for the offshore wind industry.