PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation’s SupplyRI program hosted today a Meet the Buyer event with SouthCoast Wind at CIC Providence. Rhode Island-based businesses that offer labor as well as cranes, forklifts, trucks, vessels, fabrication services, traffic, civil and construction engineering services, among many other products and services, were in attendance to learn more about how their business can get involved in the SouthCoast Wind project and contribute to the local offshore wind industry.
SupplyRI connects Rhode Island businesses with larger companies, known as anchors, to provide businesses the opportunity to grow and anchors the ability to keep supply chains local. SouthCoast Wind became an anchor of the SupplyRI program in July 2022, and today’s event represents the first major initiative under this new partnership to connect Rhode Island-based businesses to the offshore wind developer.
“Rhode Island is a proven leader in the offshore wind industry. SouthCoast Wind provides expansion opportunities for our existing Blue Economy-sector companies and strengthens our momentum as we continue to develop new offshore wind projects.” said Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner. “We have every confidence that with support from SupplyRI, SouthCoast Wind will find the suppliers it needs right here in the Ocean State.”
“Offshore wind brings remarkable benefits, not the least of which is thousands of jobs and supply chain opportunities for local businesses,” said Francis Slingsby, CEO of SouthCoast Wind. “In Rhode Island, we are fortunate to have SupplyRI as a partner to help us develop local connections that will ensure our clean energy project provides a chance for all Rhode Islanders to participate in and reap the benefits of this exciting new and growing industry.”
SouthCoast Wind, a joint venture of Shell New Energies and Ocean Winds North America, is developing an offshore wind lease area located over 60 miles southwest of Rhode Island that has the potential to generate enough low-cost clean energy to power more than one million homes across New England. Complete details regarding SouthCoast Wind’s procurement needs are available available here.
For additional information about SupplyRI, visit www.supplyrhodeisland.com.
For additional information about SouthCoast Wind visit www.southcoastwind.com.
