Ørsted has committed $5.5 million in grants to institutes of higher learning in Rhode Island, as part of its proposed 1,184 MW Starboard Wind project.
The grants are:
- $2.5 million to Roger Williams University (RWU), supporting a partnership between RWU and the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program to develop a proposal solicitation process focused on projects that conserve, protect and restore habitats within the Narragansett Bay region.
- $1 million to the University of Rhode Island (URI), including $500,000 in support services for students underrepresented in the engineering field. An additional $500,000 will support grants to five URI faculty members to engage in research over the next five years on topics such as renewable energy, biodiversity and coastal resilience.
- $2 million to the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) to support and enhance pathways to engineering careers through scholarships and stipends, tutoring and mentoring services, internship coordination and STEM preparation services through CCRI’s secondary school networks.
“Ørsted’s partnership with Rhode Island over the past decade has helped make the Ocean State a national leader in offshore wind, and Rhode Island’s higher education institutions are a key part of this industry,” says Ørsted’s David Ortiz.
“From building a pipeline of talented workers to spearheading groundbreaking ocean research, these colleges and universities are at the forefront of the clean energy revolution. As we double down on our commitment to Rhode Island, we look forward to continuing to support these partners in building a thriving blue economy for decades to come.”
The company says grant provision is dependent on project approval.
