Ørsted Announces $4M To Support Environmental Research At Connecticut Universities

 

Ørsted, New England’s leader in offshore wind energy, has announced that it has committed $4 million to support cutting-edge environmental research at the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point campus and Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) as part of its proposed Starboard Wind project.

This funding underscores Ørsted’s commitment to advancing clean energy and fostering academic research and education in Connecticut. If Starboard Wind is selected to move forward in Connecticut, Ørsted will provide the following:$2.5 million to UConn Avery Point to establish an interdisciplinary environmental research program that will study the relationship between offshore wind farms and ocean habitats. Led by the University’s Department of Marine Sciences, the program will also include evaluation of offshore wind workforce development by social science researchers.$1.5 million to SCSU to study biodiversity, climate resilience, and offshore wind. Research will include monitoring biodiversity at offshore turbine, substation, and cable route locations, and potential solutions for shoreline protection infrastructure that promote both biodiversity and community resilience. These funds would also be used to support workforce development initiatives for students who wish to seek employment in the offshore wind industry.

“In supporting these leading academic institutions, we are aiming to advance critical scientific research that is done in-state and will help guide the sustainable expansion of offshore wind energy,” said David Ortiz, Ørsted’s Director of External Affairs, Northeast. “Scientific inquiry and environmental stewardship are central to the clean energy transition, and we look forward to continuing working with our local academic partners to strengthen the foundations of Connecticut’s offshore wind industry and workforce.” 

Website: environmentalscientists.org

Nomination: Nominate Now

#YoungScientistAward #Science #Innovation #Research #2024Awards #Astronomer, #Astrophysicist, #Geophysicist, #Hydrologist, #Paleontologist, #PlanetaryScientist, #Seismologist, #PetroleumGeologist, #Oceanographer, #Hydrographer, #SoilScientist, #EnvironmentalConsultant, #ConservationScientist, #SustainabilitySpecialist, #UrbanPlanner, #Demographer, #Sociologist