Baker-Polito Administration Highlights Offshore Wind
Workforce Opportunities, Virtual Reality Training Program at Greater New
Bedford Vocational-Technical High School
NEW BEDFORD – Today, Lieutenant Governor Karen Polito,
Energy and Environmental Affair (EEA) Secretary Kathleen Theoharides, and
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Interim CEO Jennifer Daloisio visited Greater
New Bedford Vocational-Technical High School to meet with students in the
Marine Technology, Computer Graphics, and Engineering programs, highlight
potential career pathways in the emerging offshore wind industry, and
participate in a demonstration of a new virtual reality offshore wind training
program supported by the Baker-Polito Administration. The event was held as
part of the Administration’s celebration of Massachusetts STEM Week.
“Massachusetts continues to
lead the way in developing new technologies and programs to prepare the
workforce to serve the emerging offshore wind industry in the
Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Our plan to invest
$750 million in a clean energy investment fund, along with these vital
workforce training programs, will help unlock significant economic
opportunities associated with offshore wind development
and ensure that everyone in the Commonwealth can benefit
from the jobs that will be created now and in the future.”
“Offshore wind presents a
tremendous opportunity for students across the Commonwealth to see themselves
in STEM,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “The cutting-edge
virtual reality training program supported by our Administration is an engaging
way to get young people across the Commonwealth interested in a career in
offshore wind, while helping to advance our goal of building a diverse,
inclusive, and equitable workforce.”
The virtual reality training
program is developed by VinciVR Inc., a startup headquartered in Boston. In
2020, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center awarded VinciVR a $124,670 grant to
certify two Global Wind Organisation (GWO) courses in Basic Technical
Training-Installation and Slinger Signaler by using virtual reality simulations
in partnership with Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, an offshore wind turbine
manufacturer.
“By fostering partnerships
with young, innovative startup companies like VinciVR and established offshore
wind industry leaders, the Baker-Polito Administration is able to support new
approaches to workforce development that expand access to opportunity for young
people across the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs
Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Offshore wind offers students across
the Commonwealth – especially students in our Vocational-Technical schools –
exciting new opportunities and career pathways, and new tools like virtual
reality make critical training programs more engaging and accessible for the
next generation of clean energy workers.”
VinciVR’s newest program is
specifically designed to introduce students and young people to offshore wind
and the potential job opportunities that will be created by the development of
this clean energy resource in Massachusetts. this rapidly growing field of
employment. Additionally, MassCEC connected the company with the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW 223) in Taunton, where electrical
apprentices have beta-tested Vinci’s virtual training modules. So far, the
apprentices have been the most successful participants in Vinci’s VR training,
with a 100% success rate, demonstrating talent and expertise of the
Commonwealth’s emerging, skilled workforce and its ability to meet the needs of
the offshore wind industry.
“There is no better example
of the important role of STEM education than a virtual reality program to train
workers to work on the next generation of clean energy technology,” said
Education Secretary James Peyser. “Companies like Vinci working in
partnership with schools like Greater New Bedford Vocational-Technical and our
tremendous universities and community colleges will ensure that Massachusetts
students are the best educated, best trained and best prepared for the clean
energy jobs of the future.”
“Achieving our ambitious
climate goals of net zero by 2050 will require a trained and motivated
workforce,” said MassCEC Interim CEO Jennifer Daloisio. “Innovative
solutions like Vinci’s virtual reality training will enable companies like
Siemens Gamesa and others to recruit and train talented workers from here in
the South Coast and across the Commonwealth to participate in the jobs that
clean energy is providing and will continue to provide for years to come”
“Cultivating a
competitive workforce has long been at the center of our work to make New
Bedford a leader in offshore wind,” said New Bedford Mayor
Jon Mitchell. “We are grateful for the support of the
Baker-Polito Administration of programs at Voc-Tech and other educational
institutions in Greater New Bedford that help to open the doors of opportunity
for our region’s residents in this arriving industry.”
“Cutting-edge technology can break open pathways for students to
explore and engage with emerging new industries such as offshore wind,” said
State Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford). “As an alum, I am
excited to see our students gain access to this world-class resource. The
quality of our vocational technical school is second to none, but it is urgent
that the school open up many more slots so that our young people are not
sitting idle on waiting lists while employers are in desperate need of workers.”
"VinciVR
is a fantastic example of local, state-of-the-art innovation making the
Commonwealth's offshore wind workforce training technologically advanced,
efficient, and equitable," said State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy,
House Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and
Energy. "From personal experience with using VinciVR's training
technology, I know that MassCEC's grant is well-invested and will have a
far-reaching impact in the offshore wind industry. The VinciVR training will
allow many more workers to be trained in a safe environment and will greatly
enhance our workforce."
"Offshore
wind represents a unique, generational opportunity for New Bedford to lead the
development of this new industry - but to capitalize on its full potential, we
need a trained and skilled workforce to match,” said State Representative
Antonio Cabral (D-New Bedford). “I thank MassCEC for recognizing the value
and supporting this program at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech High School."
“Governor Baker and
Lieutenant Governor Polito have been very supportive of the advancement of
off-shore wind jobs in Southeastern Massachusetts,” said State
Representative Paul Schmid (D-Westport). “This innovative program is their
latest achievement, and I am thrilled the students of New Bedford and
Southeastern Massachusetts will be among the first to experience and benefit
from it.”
"State funding for STEM
education and training is a direct investment in jobs and will remain a
priority as the energy sector and other innovative businesses continue to grow
here on the South Coast," said Rep. Bill Straus (D-Mattapoisett).
“We are about to embark upon
the greatest change in energy production since the discovery of oil,” said
State Representative Christopher Markey (D-Dartmouth). “These investments
in human capital by the Baker Polito administration are yet another example of
their commitment to renewable energies. We owe them a debt of gratitude”
“The climate
crisis is very daunting, and the Offshore Wind Industry in the US faces a lot
of hurdles spanning the logistics of establishing a strong, union backed
workforce to ensuring equity and environmental justice to disadvantaged
communities, “said VinciVR CEO Eagle Wu. “We have to do everything we
can to inspire younger generations like mine to get involved and turn a crisis
into an opportunity. I’m happy that Vinci can play a role in building the
workforce needed to push the transition to green energy. “
“The U.S.
offshore wind industry is growing and shows a lot of promise. With this
partnership, we hope to help close the workforce training gap in a safe,
expedited and cost-efficient manner,” said Cynthia Brown, Head of Training
Service Americas, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. “We are excited to see
this innovative training solution become available to students of all ages.”
Additionally, VinciVR is
launching an Offshore Wind Recruiting Package aimed at engaging and exciting
the next generation of industry experts. Vinci is currently in the process of
converting its training simulations into interactive experiences aimed at
educating high school, middle school, and post-secondary school students about
the scale and operations of renewable energy. These efforts work hand in
hand with MassCEC’s goals of developing and recruiting a diverse, equitable,
and highly skilled workforce in offshore wind through increased
access to training opportunities and reduced barriers to entry into the
offshore wind industry.
On October 13, 2021 Governor
Baker filed legislation to direct $750 million to support the continued growth
and development of the Commonwealth’s clean energy industry. The legislation, An
Act to Power Massachusetts’ Clean Energy Economy, would establish a new
Clean Energy Investment Fund, totaling $750 million, that would support
innovation, research and development, and job training in the clean energy
sector, significantly expanding Massachusetts’s national leadership on clean
energy and climate change.
In March of
2021, Governor Baker signed
comprehensive climate change legislation that increased the
Administration’s authorization to solicit an additional 2,400 Megawatts of
offshore wind, bringing the state’s total commitment to 5,600 Megawatts.
In May 2021,
the Baker-Polito Administration and the Commonwealth’s electric distribution
companies released the RFP for the third round of offshore wind energy
solicitations under the Section 83C process, allowing bids up to 1600
Megawatts, doubling the size of previous procurements. In this
solicitation, for the first time, the Administration required bidders to submit
diversity, equity and inclusion plans that includes a Workforce Diversity Plan
and Supplier Diversity Program Plan. The plans will outline bidders' commitment
to promoting employment and procurement/contracting opportunities for minority,
women, veterans, LGBT and persons with disabilities. The RFP also includes an
enhanced criteria for economic benefits, including workforce development, local
supply chain investments, and research and innovation. Bids were due on
September 16, 2021 and a winning bid will be selected on December 17, 2021.
In September
2021, the Administration announced the release of a new report assessing the
workforce strengths, gaps, and opportunities in Massachusetts for the emerging
offshore wind industry. The report analyzes offshore wind workforce development in the Northeast
with a specific focus on Massachusetts, including an overview of the existing,
relevant regional training programs, including grantees awarded under MassCEC’s
2018 and 2020 workforce development awards. The analysis also examines the workforce
needed to achieve Massachusetts’ ambitious offshore wind goals, and the state’s
ability to supply the necessary workers.
Strengthening STEM
education in the Commonwealth’s K-12 schools is a priority of the Baker-Polito
Administration. The first STEM Week was held in October 2018 as a way to
boost interest in STEM subjects among students, particularly young women and
minority students, and highlight the abundance of career opportunities in the
Commonwealth. STEM Week is a collaborative effort between the Executive Office
of Education; the STEM Advisory Council, which works to generate interest and
support from the business community for STEM activities and is co-chaired by
Lt. Governor Polito, Congressman Jake Auchincloss and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Executive
Chairman Jeffrey Leiden; and the Commonwealth’s nine Regional STEM Networks,
which plan and coordinate activities with local schools, community leaders and
business partners.