Ørsted unveils $15M grants to attract women, minority-owned firms to green economy

The developer behind a massive wind energy project off the Atlantic City coast is rolling out a $15 million grant program to help women-and minority-owned businesses enter the green energy economy.

Ørsted Offshore North America, in a Jan. 21 announcement, said it is administering grants to businesses involved with some aspect of the supply chain for renewable energy, such as wind energy, with a focus on firms owned by women and people of color.

Beverly McCall, chair of Ørsted’s Pro-NJ Grantor Trust Fund, which is overseeing the program, said in a statement that the goal is to provide businesses “the capital and the opportunity to enter into this fast-growing new sector.” Applications go live on Feb. 1.

Eligible companies include those involved with offshore lighting; marine vessel construction and repair; turbine blade inspection and servicing; network and wireless communications; fuel service and supply; marine clothing and equipment; and professional services such as communications, engineering and environmental planning.

The Danish company is constructing an 1,100-megawatt wind farm 12 miles off the coast of Atlantic City. And it was selected along with German pipe manufacturer the EEW Group to base its operations out of a $250 million manufacturing facility at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal in the South Jersey Port Corporation’s facilities in Paulsboro.

In June, the administration unveiled a 200-acre dedicated “wind port” in Salem County, along the Delaware Bay, and from which the state would ship out wind turbine components to the rest of the country.

Ørsted is also vying to be the developer in charge of a 2,400-megawatt project off the coast of Atlantic City. Another application was submitted for a 2,300-megawatt joint venture between EDF Renewables and oil giant Shell.

Gov. Phil Murphy and other top state economic development officials contend that offshore wind is a key industry that could be involved in the state’s recovery from the COVID-19 recession.

“The clean energy economy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. So, we’re bringing together stakeholders to assess our needs and develop a robust and equitable green jobs workforce development strategy,” Murphy said during his Jan. 12 State of the State address.