Lt. Governor Carney Gets Commitment From Bluewater Wind To Make Delaware Its Regional Hub For Offshore Operations

Commitment is subject to wind farm being approved in DE; Could mean hundreds of jobs for Delawareans

Lt. Governor John Carney today announced a major commitment by Bluewater Wind and its parent company, Babcock and Brown, to establish the regional hub for its offshore wind operations in Delaware.

The Lt. Governor received the commitment from Hunter Armistead, the leader of the energy division of Babcock & Brown's North American Infrastructure Group, at a meeting Wednesday morning. Below is a statement from Lt. Governor Carney on this significant opportunity:

"As many of you know, I have been a strong supporter of efforts to bring an offshore wind farm to the Delaware coast. I believe it is the best alternative available to our state to provide clean, affordable and reliable electricity in the future. After months of negotiations, I believe Bluewater and its parent company, Babcock and Brown, have made a convincing argument that the wind farm they propose should be built.

"Much of the debate on this issue thus far has focused on the costs and environmental benefits of offshore wind. While these are all critical issues, what has gone largely unnoticed is the potentially significant economic benefit of offshore wind to Delaware. I want to address that today and make an important announcement about a commitment Babcock and Brown has made to me about its future growth as a company in our state.

"Yesterday, I met with Hunter Armistead, the leader of the energy division of Babcock & Brown's North American Infrastructure Group. In that meeting, we discussed whether Babcock & Brown would make Delaware its regional hub for offshore wind development and maintenance. Mr. Armistead, on behalf of Babcock & Brown, committed to doing just that provided the State moves forward with the proposal to build the offshore wind park in a timely manner.

"Let me be clear: this commitment goes beyond the hundreds of good-paying jobs that the Delaware project will produce. This agreement positions Delaware to become a national leader in the new clean energy economy, creating good high-paying jobs as well as new business opportunities for Delawareans. This could be a coup for Delaware.

"The Bluewater Wind project already promises up to 500 construction jobs during the two to three year build out, as well as providing 80 - 100 operation and maintenance jobs during the life of the wind farm. The economic development stakes are actually much higher. With Babcock and Brown's purchase of Bluewater Wind, it is clear that one of the world's largest onshore wind power developers believes that its next business frontier is 10 or more miles out into the ocean. This is a unique opportunity for Delaware to get in on the ground floor of an industry that has tremendous growth potential.

"I am not just talking about Bluewater Wind's proposed offshore wind farm, I am talking about offshore wind energy projects that will likely follow in the region, including in New Jersey and Maryland, as the demand for clean, renewable energy increases. The jobs involved in building and maintaining offshore wind parks will require highly skilled tradesmen and women. For example, major infrastructure improvements will be required for the wind farm. Facilities at the Port would have to be built and staging areas prepared. Worker training programs will be required and lay down areas for the turbine blades and poles will have to be set up. Barges and other large vessels also will be needed.

"Economies of scale will dictate that offshore wind developers - whether Bluewater/Babcock & Brown or their competitors - will not want to make costly investments in infrastructure and worker training programs for each individual offshore wind farm. One regional center can serve numerous offshore wind farms. This positions Delaware perfectly to become the hub of this new emerging business, creating hundreds of new jobs directly, and hundreds more in related businesses. If this hub does not locate in Delaware, it will be located somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic States. I want it to be here.

"Delaware's workforce is poised to meet this demand and our workforce will, as it has done before, readily re-tool to meet this challenge. With this industry, river and bay access is essential and we can easily move cargo for offshore wind energy operations out to the ocean construction sites. And, we'll have the necessary workers and facilities required to operate and maintain these wind farms once they become operational.

"We pride ourselves in Delaware for being the First State. Today we have an opportunity to lay claim to that title again, this time as the regional leader for a new industry that will, without a doubt, grow rapidly in the years ahead. This commitment by Babcock and Brown is another great reason for the General Assembly to move forward with the Bluewater wind farm proposal, and I urge them to do so."

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