Speaker @JoeShekarchi and @GovDanMcKee today joined @CCRINews Interim President Dr. Rosemary Costigan, Revolution Wind's joint-venture partners Ørsted and Eversource, along with Rhode Island state agencies and labor organizations, for a “topping-off” ceremony of the state’s first offshore wind safety training center at the CCRI Flanagan Campus in Lincoln. Supported by a $1 million grant from Ørsted and Eversource, this new center is a partnership between CCRI, the @RI_DLT, @CommerceRI, @ri_trades, and @goapprenticeRI, and it will serve as the state's first Global Wind Organization (GWO) training certificate program – the international standard for offshore wind safety training. Workers enrolled in the program will receive training in first aid, manual handling, fire awareness, working at heights, and sea survival. The topping-off ceremony is an important milestone to signal completion of the construction phase of this project. The center is slated to open to its first class of trainees in spring 2024. The GWO program will be available to all workers seeking a GWO training certificate, which provides them with the specialized safety credentials required for working offshore. The course takes 44 hours to complete, and certification is valid for two years. GWO training is a critical component in ensuring safe working conditions and practices in the industry. Upon completion of the course, graduates will obtain the practical skills needed to perform their job safely and be prepared for the rigors of offshore work. “Rhode Island is leading the nation when it comes to environmental initiatives, with the passage of the Act on Climate and our state’s ambitious commitment to 100% renewable electricity by 2033,” said Speaker Shekarchi. “As we transition to clean energy, new jobs are being created in the blue and green economies. I am so excited to help celebrate our state’s first Offshore Wind Safety Training Center, which will provide valuable training opportunities for our workforce to ensure that we’re ready to meet our emerging clean energy needs.” More information: rilegislature.gov/pressrelea…