For Immediate Release: June 24, 2022

Contact: Matt Spence  202-728-6134

IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson’s Statement in Support of New Federal-State Offshore Wind Partnership

Lonnie Stephenson, President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, issued the following statement supporting the new Federal-State Offshore Wind Partnership:

“The IBEW’s 775,000 members applaud the Biden Administration for convening this first-of-its-kind collaboration between federal and state officials to accelerate offshore wind deployment. With the input of key stakeholders, including the IBEW, the partnership will help to ensure that the offshore wind industry fosters a strong, U.S.-based supply chain for offshore wind, grows a skilled U.S. workforce supported by good union jobs, builds on the administration’s work to address important issues like electrical transmission and building a domestic fleet of Jones Act-compliant Wind Turbine Installation Vessels (WTIVs), and other key priorities.

We greatly appreciate being invited to participate in Thursday’s [SM1] inaugural meeting of the Federal-State Offshore Wind Partnership. The IBEW views the burgeoning offshore wind industry as a great opportunity to build a high-road industry from the ground up. Our members are willing and ready to help realize President Biden’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, clean energy needed to power 10 million homes, support 77,000 jobs, and spur $12 billion annually in private investment in offshore wind projects.”

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The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) represents approximately 775,000 members and retirees who work in a wide variety of fields, including construction, utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, railroads and government.