rsted to bring $20 million facility to West Ocean City – Delmarva Now

Arcon Training Center trains new wind energy technicians

Arcon Training Center opened its doors to teach a curriculum of safety for the next generation of offshore and land-based wind energy technicians.

Lauren Roberts, Salisbury Daily Times

A nearly $20 millionoperations and maintenance facility is coming to West Ocean City on Harbor Road, accordingto rsted as plans move forward on Skipjack Wind 1.

The construction will create up to 110 temporary and permanent jobs in the region, according to a news release,and rsted hopes this will make Ocean City a strategic locationfor the offshore wind industry.

rsted is working on planning and design of the facility, and planson sharingthe constructiontimeline in the coming weeks. The jobs will include wind turbine maintenance technicians, engineers, operations personnel and other key roles,

As the global leader in offshore wind energy, rsted firmly believes that the Ocean City community deserves full access to the incredible promise of this new American industry, said David Hardy, CEO of rsted Offshore North America. We are excited to fulfill another commitment made to Maryland and look forward to working with Ocean City residents, including its local fishing community, to make this a project that benefits all.

Skipjack Wind 1 is a 120-megawatt offshore wind energy project under development in Maryland that will power 40,000 homes in the region, generate $225 million in economic investment in Maryland, and create nearly 1,400 jobs statewide.

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The facility will serve as the strategic embarkation point for up to three crew transfer vessels that will service Skipjack Wind 1. The projectwill include a warehouse and serve as rsteds Ocean City area office.

rsted plans to utilize zero-emissionvessels at the facility as part of its companywide plan to move to zero emissions entirely. The facility will serve as the "permanent home for key members of the Skipjack Wind 1 Maryland team, including highly skilled wind turbine maintenance technicians, engineers, operations personnel and other key roles."

Among those behind the strongest paeanfor the project is the Arcon Training Facility in Salisbury, which works to ensurethe workforce for the emerging industry will be ready.

As a small business owner who understands the critical importance of workforce development, I am excited to see rsteds continued long-term investment on the Eastern Shore, said Katarina Ennerfelt, CEO of Arcon Training Center in Salisbury.

Ennerfelt went on to say she applaud rsted for taking a"significant" step in making offshore wind an asset to the state.

Training wind workers: Arcon ready to set a safety standard for the next generation ofwind energy technicians

Organizations like the Greater Salisbury Committee have also been supporters of the wind industry and its potential for establishing a sustainable economic pipeline.

rsteds investment is great news for the Lower Shore workforce and a great example of why the Greater Salisbury Committee has supported offshore wind for six years, said Mike Dunn, president and CEO of the Greater Salisbury Committee. Offshore wind is creating a tremendous job pipeline for Lower Shore workers and small businesses. Diversifying our workforce with good paying jobs that service Skipjack Wind is huge.

Offshore wind projects by rsted have also garnered favor at the federal level amid more discussions on climate change impacts like sea level rise on the Eastern Shore.

Investing in renewable energy sources like offshore wind will boost Marylands economy, create more opportunity in our communities, and help us tackle the ever-present threats of climate change," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-MD.

He added anoffshore wind operations and maintenance facility would create and cultivate"good-paying clean energy jobs across our state."

Van Hollen also noted he will continue to workat the federal level to support responsible offshore wind development and a Clean Energy Standard to incentivize renewable sources.

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-MD, echoed Van Hollen's sentiments and added the nation's prolonged dependency on foreign petroleum sourcesfor energy needs is not sustainable.

Im excited to see how this project moves forward, working closely with Ocean City and the local community," Cardin said. "This new facility will help solidifyMarylandas a national leader in creatingtheclean energyeconomythat willstrengthennational security by lessening our dependence on foreign oil and protect our environment.

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rsted to bring $20 million facility to West Ocean City - Delmarva Now