SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — Several congressional Democrats visited Rhode Island on Friday to learn more about offshore wind.

This visit was hosted by Rep. Seth Magaziner, which saw them take part in panels at the University of Rhode Island.

Those who visited were California Reps. Jared Huffman, Nannette Barragan and Salud Carbajal; New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; New Mexico Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury and North Carolina Congresswoman Deborah Ross.

The panelists explained how their experiences were when switching to renewable energy as well as work being done at Block Island Wind and Revolution Wind.

“We trained 173 workers in less than six months’ time,” said Andrew Cortés, founder of Rhode Island Building Futures.

How the commercial fishing and marine life industry may be affected also came up during these discussions.

“Fishermen can figure out how to fish in a wind farm but it’s the operations, the changes that they have to make to their gear and their boats and their everyday operations with their staff in how to make that work,” said Jeffrey Willis, executive director for the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.

After the panel, 12 News asked the congress members if the damaged wind turbine washed ashore at Nantucket Beach earlier this month posed any concerns.

“The situation with Vineyard Wind needs to be taken seriously,” Magaziner said. “But the good news is that it is one offshore wind development, one company and one supplier that built the blade and that that supplier is not building the blades for offshore wind projects here in Rhode Island.”

GE Vernova, who built Vineyard Wind’s turbine, cited a “material or manufacturing deviation” that caused the failure.

The company said it plans to look at all the other wind blades made at that same facility.

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