Today a milestone occured in the wind energy industry that is about to make its mark on America for the next several decades. The first in nation Off Shore Wind project – Vineyard Wind was approved by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management right off the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, MASSACHUSETTS!!! This is huge and represents new job opportunities not only locally but across the country. Many thanks to the Biden Administration for cutting through the bureaucracy and making this a reality. This has been a long strange journey, but many folks believed and pushed and pushed with great resolve. I would be remiss not to thank the New Bedford City Council who had the foresight to support this effort; our Mayor, Jon Mitchell; New Bedford Economic Development Council; the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; Senator Pat Haddad; and my buddy Matt Morrisey. On to developing a whole new workforce for a whole new industry. We’re on it!!!
—Jim Oliveira, Executive Director MassHire Greater New Bedford Workforce Board
