Petroleum Corp of Jamaica wins USTDA grant for offshore wind project

The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) said on Wednesday it is supporting the development of an offshore wind project in Jamaica by awarding a grant to the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ).

The company will use the money to finance a feasibility study aimed at evaluating the viability of installing such a facility. It has chosen Louisiana-based energy firm Keystone Engineering Inc (KEI) to carry out the study. KEI was the foundation design-engineer for the US’ first offshore wind farm -- the 30-MW Block Island facility off the coast of Rhode Island.

“This study will help the PCJ to get valuable data that can attract overseas investment for the development of our offshore wind resources and we look forward to a fruitful partnership with USTDA and with KEI,” said Winston Watson, Group General Manager of the PCJ.

This would be one of the first offshore wind installations in Jamaica and the greater Caribbean region, USTDA said, adding that the project would create opportunities for the export from the US of a range of equipment and services.

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