Tsongas, Keating, and Grijalva Introduce Legislation Supporting American Energy Jobs

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Congressman Bill Keating (D-MA), and Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced the Offshore Wind Jobs and Opportunity Act, legislation to educate and train a new generation of American offshore wind workers.

The new federal grant program created by this legislation will assist colleges and universities, state and local governments, unions, and nonprofits develop curricula, internships, health and safety programs, and other activities deemed appropriate by the Secretaries of Energy, Labor, Interior, and Education to develop an offshore wind workforce. The bill prioritizes grants to community colleges, organizations that service minority populations, and those helping workers from other industries transition to the offshore wind industry.

Congresswoman Tsongas said:"Our nation is in the midst of a clean energy revolution. More and more of our electricity is being generated by renewable energy and clean energy jobs in Massachusetts have grown by 81% since 2010. Massachusetts was among the first states to participate in federal offshore wind lease sales and the industry offers tremendous opportunities for home-grown energy production and job creation across the entire Commonwealth. Our legislation helps ensure that local workers are fully trained and ready to pave the way for growth and innovation in this rapidly growing clean energy industry."

Congressman Keating said: "Despite this Administration's attacks on clean energy, there are plenty of hard-working Americans who are ready, willing, and able to train in the wind industry. And many of them are in my District. We are proud in Southeastern Massachusetts to have one of the first off-shore wind energy sites and we are even prouder that the jobs created here will benefit many industries and many communities. Our region welcomes offshore wind and its proven track record of creating long-term, high-paying jobs and this legislation will help us meet our goal of ensuring that we have a well-trained, local workforce ready on day one."

Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Raúl Grijalva said: "We need to focus our efforts on clean power instead of dirty fossil fuels, and that's what this bill does. The American people already want renewable energy and don't trust Big Oil to do the right thing for the environment. Wind power is a huge part of building the cleaner, more sustainable economy we all deserve, and it can play an even bigger role with the right support."

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