LaGuardia Community College to launch offshore wind training
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Gov. Kathy Hochul announced funding for a wind technician training program at LaGuardia Community College. Photo via Paul Hoffman/Wikimedia Commons
By Rachel Vick
LaGuardia Community College is preparing to support the next generation of green energy workers from Queens as part of New York State’s efforts to expand offshore wind production.
The Queens school was named by Gov. Kathy Hochul to be among the first to win an award to support workforce training in historically disadvantaged communities in the state to support equity in the emerging energy field.
"We know what it takes to build and sustain for the future, it's in our DNA as New Yorkers," Hochul said. “No state has felt the impacts of climate change more than New York State, and now more than ever, we can continue to lead the way with our ambitious, nation-leading vision to transition to a renewable energy and a cleaner, greener future."
LaGuardia and Hudson Valley Community College received a combined $569,618 to support the training programs at their respective institutions.
LAGCC is partnering with Siemens Gamesa, a renewable energy company, to build a workforce that ensures local participation for the construction, repair and maintenance of offshore wind facilities in the New York City area.
A total of fifty low-income individuals from Queens and Brooklyn will receive training and certification to work as offshore wind technicians. The curriculum will be built to educate those entering the workforce for the first time and fill gaps in the training of those already part of the trade.
"Building an inclusive offshore wind workforce will allow us to ensure that low-income communities of color and other communities that have been left behind in the past have a chance to lead the green economy of the future," said Senior Director of Workforce Development for LAGCC Hannah Weinstock.
Funding was awarded under the State's $20 million Offshore Wind Training Institute, and announced alongside the finalization of contracts between the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Empire Wind Offshore LLC and Beacon Wind LLC for the Empire Wind 2 and Beacon Wind offshore wind projects.
The 1,260-megawatt Empire Wind 2 and 1,230-megawatt Beacon Wind projects were provisionally awarded in January 2021 as a result of NYSERDA's second offshore wind competitive solicitation and are expected to begin commercial operation in 2027 and 2028 as part of reaching the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035.
