Attentive Energy Partners with SUNY Maritime College Center of Excellence for Offshore Wind and Horizons National on Inaugural Offshore Wind Student Immersion Day for NYC Youth Middle Schoolers from across NYC to learn about and explore the offshore wind industry through a day of hands-on activities BRONX, NY – October 27, 2022 – On Saturday, November 5, SUNY Maritime College will host middle school students from underserved communities throughout New York City for a premier event, “NYC Student Day: Youth Power and Offshore Wind.” The inaugural event made possible through a partnership between Maritime College, Horizons New York City, and offshore wind developer Attentive Energy will expose NYC youth to the up-and-coming industry of offshore wind and future career opportunities. “Offshore wind is a maritime industry and Maritime College is pleased to partner with these two important organizations and welcome local students to learn more about this industry in their neighborhood. Through this exclusive program, students will experience on the water activities and gain exposure to the unique technological tools that may motivate them to pursue an exciting career within the offshore wind industry,” said SUNY Maritime College President Rear Admiral Michael Alfultis. As part of the day’s program, students will be introduced to the offshore wind industry by: Piloting a virtual ship on the College’s offshore wind bridge simulator Climbing and maintaining turbine towers in a virtual reality environment Building their own model wind turbine and generating power Hearing about careers in the offshore wind industry from local offshore wind experts Experiencing the East River by boat and seeing oyster reefs that are helping improve water quality Students attending the day’s events are associated with the partner schools and enrichment programs of Horizons New York City, a regional affiliate of Horizons National that focuses on increasing opportunity and support in communities most impacted by educational inequities. “This is a very unique learning opportunity, and we are excited to partner with SUNY Maritime College and Attentive Energy to help make the experience possible. These kinds of opportunities are more important than ever for young people, especially those affected by inequity in education.” — Jose Oromi, Executive Vice President of Horizons National. Attentive Energy, a company with deep experience in the offshore sector, will serve as the event sponsor and provide insights and relevant background for students on the technology and future workforce needs. “We are excited to partner with SUNY Maritime College and Horizons National to engage with students in NYC through a very unique and immersive program that we hope ignites their imagination around an offshore wind future taking shape in their city. Most importantly, we look forward to hearing directly from the students and having their feedback to inform future programming and outreach to this local workforce. This inaugural event continues our local commitment to promote our values of strengthening communities and investing in people first. Together with our partners, we can support the buildout of an inclusive clean energy economy.” — Damian Bednarz, Managing Director at Attentive Energy A renewable and infinite energy source, offshore wind power will perform a critical function in the future of electricity generation and is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs in New York to support the state’s offshore wind goal of 9,000 megawatts (MW) by 2035, per the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Immersive student days centered on offshore wind exploration will prepare future generations for the development of a local and diverse workforce, a critical piece to meeting our shared economic and climate goals.
