The visit, hosted by Rep. Seth Magaziner, attracted several notable members of the House of Representatives, including included California Reps. Jared Huffman, Nanette Barragan, and Salud Carbajal, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury and North Carolina Rep. Deborah Ross.

The panelists shed light on the national offshore wind landscape, strategies to mitigate impacts on marine and local industries, workforce development, and job opportunities for historically marginalized communities.

Rhode Island was the first state in the U.S. to launch an offshore wind development. The sessions aimed to offer Democratic members of Congress an opportunity to learn from the state’s experience.

Magaziner detailed Rhode Island’s ambitious goal to derive 80-90% of its electricity from offshore wind by the end of the decade.

The panelists explained the benefits of offshore wind in meeting electricity demands, improving public health, and creating jobs during the first part of the session.

“You are replacing a power generator, a fossil fuel power generator at lung height, where people are breathing, with a non-emitting technology offshore. So there can be a direct correlation between public health in that way in our coastal cities,” said Anne Reynolds, vice president for offshore wind at the American Clean Power Association.