QDC Approves Deepwater Wind Agreement

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The Quonset Development Corp. (QDC) board of directors has approved a development agreement/lease option with Deepwater Wind for 117 acres. Deepwater plans to use Quonset as a base for manufacturing, assembly and launching of wind turbines.

The three parcels of land will be used for foundation manufacturing, assembly and logistical operations. When fully operational, the headquarters is expected to support 800 jobs.

‘We are moving in the right direction when it comes to making targeted investments in renewable energy in Rhode Island,’ says Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, R-R.I. ‘Not only is this about bringing clean, green power that is not subject to variations and increases in fuel prices to our state, but this is also about bolstering economic development in Rhode Island and furthering our efforts to enable Quonset to realize its full potential.’


The 10-year lease for $20.7 million also includes options for an additional 10 years. In May, Deepwater Wind opened development offices in Providence and on Block Island.

In addition, Carcieri recently joined state House Majority Leader Gordon Fox and state Sen. Joshua Miller at the Rhode Island Economic Development Corp.'s Green Economy Roundtable to sign long-term contracting legislation.

The legislation requires the state's largest electric utility to enter into long-term contracts to purchase power from renewable energy producers in Rhode Island, and is expected to help large-scale renewable energy projects – including the Deepwater Wind offshore wind projects – attract the private financing they need by guaranteeing there will be a market for the type of energy they produce.

SOURCES: Quonset Development Corp., Office of Gov. Donald L. Carcieri

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