GE using ProvPort for wind turbine assembly for Deepwater Wind project

JEFF GRYBOWSKI, CEO of Deepwater Wind LLC, and Gov. Gina M. Raimondo each commented on the company's offshore wind farm project, and how General Electric Co. is using the Port of Providence to receive and assemble wind turbines destined for Deepwater's project near Block Island.  / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
JEFF GRYBOWSKI, CEO of Deepwater Wind LLC, and Gov. Gina M. Raimondo each commented on the company's offshore wind farm project, and how General Electric Co. is using the Port of Providence to receive and assemble wind turbines destined for Deepwater's project near Block Island. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

PROVIDENCE – General Electric Co. is using the Port of Providence to receive and assemble wind turbines destined for the Deepwater Wind LLC offshore wind project near Block Island.
Providence Business News first reported in July that Deepwater, based in Providence, would conduct at least some of its wind turbine assembly work for the nation’s first-ever offshore wind farm at the Port of Providence and the company on Wednesday officially made the announcement. Deepwater was previously partnered with France-based company Alstom and now continues that relationship with GE, which finalized an acquisition of Alstom’s offshore wind unit in September.
The company is supplying five 6-megawatt Haliade 150 offshore wind turbines to power Deepwater’s 30-megawatt project about three miles off the coast of Block Island.
Beginning this week, Connecticut-based GE expects to receive the first five of 15 tower sections in Providence, where the 95-foot tall sections will be offloaded at a new temporary manufacturing facility at the Port of Providence, according to Deepwater.
“This is a major milestone for the Block Island project and for sustainable energy in the U.S.,” Anders Soe-Jensen, president and CEO of GE’s offshore wind unit, said in a statement. “We are proud to be part of the team making it happen.”
Deepwater estimates GE will spend the next six months installing electrical, mechanical and safety equipment to the five bottom tower sections. The remaining sections are expected to arrive at some time next year.
“Rhode Island continues to lead by example with the construction of the nation’s first offshore wind farm,” said Gov. Gina M. Raimondo in a statement. “This innovative project is being assembled by local workers right here in the Ocean State. By working with our partners at Deepwater Wind and GE, we are advancing important energy and environmental goals while also creating local jobs that get Rhode Islanders back to work.”
Indeed, the offshore wind company expects the project will require 60 local jobs and says it will team up with several local contractors and union workers to get the work done. Deepwater estimates the entire Block Island project will require a total of 300 workers.
The Port of Providence, operated by ProvPort, is the second Rhode Island port where onshore work is happening, as construction and staging work has been done at Quonset Point in North Kingstown. The Quonset port “continues to host construction and repair work and vessel staging for the wind farm,” according to Deepwater.
“From Providence and Quonset Point to the waters off Block Island, the Ocean State is leading the growth of a new American industry,” Deepwater CEO Jeffrey Grybowski said in a statement. “This work at ProvPort brings one of the world’s most innovative companies to the city of Providence. And, just as important, we’re putting more Rhode Islanders to work and giving them the experience they need to help grow this industry.”

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