Rhode Island issues 10-year tax credit to draw offshore wind business
Boston Energy committed to keeping at least 52 full-time jobs instate for at least 12 years. Boston Energy could access the Qualifying Jobs tax credit after paying state taxes for one year for the new hires it has made.
GEV Wind Power, a large UK-based wind turbine maintenance company, also said it would create about 125 jobs in the state by basing its U.S. headquarters in Providence. The Commerce Corporation’s board approved the developer in June to receive up to $1.93 million in tax credits over a 10-year period.
Governors in the area have been bullish on offshore wind.
In New Jersey, a beta version of an offshore wind supply chain registry launched in April, to match offshore wind project investors with state-based partners and suppliers. New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts have set ambitious renewable portfolio targets, making the offshore resource central.
The developers of the Revolution Wind project, Ørsted and investor-owned utility Eversource, in Rhode Island pledged $4.5 million to support offshore wind education and to develop the industry’s state-based supply chain. The Revolution Wind project, which will deliver 400 MW to Rhode Island and 304 MW to Connecticut over a 20-year power purchase agreement, could potentially power half the homes in Rhode Island and is expected to create more than 800 clean energy jobs.