Boston, MA – The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center recently reported on the workforce needs and economic impact of the emerging offshore wind industry. They found that the deployment of 1,600 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind is estimated to create between 2,270 and 3,170 job years, defined as one person working full-time for one year, during construction over the next ten years. It would also generate between $675 million and $800 million in direct economic output in Massachusetts.
Additionally, the report found that between 140 to 255 operations and maintenance job years will be generated and sustained annually throughout the 25-year life of an offshore wind farm. When taking into account direct, indirect (supply chain), and induced impacts, the deployment of 1,600 MW of offshore wind is estimated to support between 6,870 and 9,850 job years over the next ten years and generate a total economic impact in Massachusetts of between $1.4 billion to $2.1 billion.
The Offshore Wind Workforce Report, sponsored by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and authored by Bristol Community College, UMass Dartmouth, and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, provides analysis and recommendations to guide the training and development needs for the offshore wind industry workforce in Massachusetts.
In 2016, Governor Baker signed bipartisan energy diversification legislation authorizing the largest procurement of clean energy generation in Massachusetts’ history, including approximately 1,600 MW of offshore wind energy and approximately 9,450,000 megawatts hours (MWh) of clean energy, including large-scale hydropower.
