In Riverhead, free workshop on offshore wind careers set for Dec. 11

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A free, 90-minute workshop on offshore wind careers for people of all skill levels is set for Dec. 11. The workshop is hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County at its headquarters at 423 North Griffing Avenue in Riverhead.

The program is provided by Suffolk County Community College in partnership with the Institute for Workforce Advancement.

“This workshop provides an ideal way to find your role within offshore wind’s broad range of careers – whether you are seeking blue-collar or white-collar opportunities,” August Ruckdeschel, clean energy coordinator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, said in a news release about the workshop.

“Offshore wind power will not only help build Long Island’s green economy, it will also deliver good-paying union jobs,” Ruckdeschel said.

The workshop comes at a time when several major projects at a local level are either completed or underway. These include South Fork Wind, a 132-megawatt farm that began operation in December of 2023; Sunrise Wind, a 924-megawatt farm that began construction in July; and Empire Wind 1, a proposed 816-megwatt farm.

Industry experts will be leading the workshops, which are designed for people, ranging from seasoned professionals to high school students, who are interested in the offshore wind industry. There will be opportunity to network and explore potential career opportunities, with potential in an abundance of areas, from welding to engineering and more.

Attendees will be introduced to a career-focused web platform designed to help young people and adults in job transition get a handle on employment opportunities, skills requirements and employers in the industry.

Additional workshop topics include an introduction to wind farms and how they work, what is happening now on Long Island in the offshore wind sector, and how a wind turbine is built.

Registration is required.