Commitments to Labor Are Central to Attentive Energy Two and New Jersey’s Offshore Wind Goals Attentive Energy Two Project Announces Partnership with the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters By Alexandra Howell, Workforce & Labor Liaison December 6th, 2023 The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters (EASRCC) represents over 43,000 members in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The Union is hard at work in New Jersey advancing workforce training and supply chain readiness to support the growing offshore wind sector. In November, the Attentive Energy Two (AE2) team visited two training center locations in New Jersey operated by the EASRCC. These centers offer a full suite of GWO training programs that will empower union members across New Jersey to support the offshore wind industry. As of today, the EASRCC is the only union operating a GWO training center, and the only operational GWO training center on the east coast. At its Hammonton campus, the EARSCC trains apprentices and experienced journey workers to safely operate heavy highway and bridge construction equipment, vertical concrete construction equipment, as well as drilling equipment used for monopiles, caissons, lagging and tiebacks. The EASRCC also plans to offer specialized training to repair and maintain wind turbines at this location. For the second part of the tour, the AE2 team visited the EARCC’s state-of-the-art diving school. This unique property is situated along a private lake in Sicklerville, New Jersey that offers sufficient water depths to perform sea survival training, and houses all the necessary equipment required to safely and effectively train union members for work offshore. This facility recently was announced as the winner of the Oceantic’s Ventus Award for supply chain advancement. The EASRCC facility offers New Jersey residents the unique opportunity to obtain critical GWO training in their home state and will be a key component to delivering a ready workforce for New Jersey’s offshore wind industry. As part of its commitment to bringing union workforce opportunities in the offshore wind industry to underrepresented groups, AE2 is proud to announce an exciting proposed partnership with EASRCC as part of its proposal for New Jersey’s third offshore wind solicitation. On condition of being successfully selected by NJBPU, AE2 will commit up to $1 million to Carpenters Apprenticeship Readiness Program (CARP), a pre-apprenticeship program offering preliminary training and direct entry into the EARCC. This grant will be used to invest in training and recruitment efforts across New Jersey. The program will: Offer a training introduction at the EASRCC’s GWO training facilities; Foster collaboration with other building trades locals across New Jersey; Provide program participants with foundational safety and specialized training offerings required for success in the offshore wind industry. Offer access to pre-apprenticeship training to all New Jersey residents, with recruitment efforts targeted to groups traditionally underrepresented in the building trades, including members of overburdened communities, women, veterans, differently-abled New Jersey residents and others. EASRCC Executive Secretary-Treasurer William C. Sproule said of the partnership, “Our GWO training offerings can deliver a ready workforce that will build the offshore wind industry, but we need buy-in from responsible developers who understand the value of partnerships with organized labor. Through its partnership with AE2, the Carpenters Union can offer opportunities across the state to communities that generally do not get to see the benefits of union membership. If selected by the BPU, the AE2 project will bridge the gap for hundreds of people looking for a career in our union. We look forward to collaborating with Attentive Energy to bring this important initiative to fruition, and to working with our brothers and sisters in the building trades to power New Jersey with clean energy for decades to come.” Attentive Energy is committed to maintaining strong local partnerships with labor unions that bring careers in offshore wind across New Jersey to overburdened communities and underrepresented groups. The proposed investment in CARP will allow the EASRCC to expand its existing recruitment efforts and customize a pre-apprenticeship program specifically for the offshore wind industry.
