Wind power firm to open US base in RI

June 25, 2019 12:15 am

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Off the coast of Block Island stands America’s first commercial offshore wind farm.

It’s a big reason why…British company GEV Wind Power, which maintains wind turbines, is bringing its US headquarters — and about 125 jobs — to nearby Quonset.

“This is a whole new industry,” said Governor Gina Raimondo, (D) Rhode Island. “And it’s being born in Rhode Island, literally.”

But the headquarters might have gone to Texas, were it not for the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation approving financial incentives for the company on Monday amounting to 1–point–9 million dollars over 10 years.

The governor defended the use of those incentives.

“They don’t get a dime until the jobs are created,” Raimondo said. “And this is the way the smartest states do it, and allowing us to be competitive. So I think they were good tools.”

The new hires are expected to generate $3.5 million in sales, income, and business corporation taxes for Rhode Island over 12 years. Once hiring is complete, they’re expected to bring an almost $14 million increase to Rhode Island’s annual GDP.

The head of the Commerce Corporation says it shows wind power is now a reality that can’t be ignored.

“We’re the pioneer in this field, and it is real,” said RI Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor. “We have five turbines that are fully operational. We’re about to leap to 50 turbines. They need to be maintained. These are real jobs.”

GEV expects to start hiring immediately.