Ørsted and Eversource sign first-ever U.S. Offshore Wind Helicopter Contract

Agreement Supports New Helicopters Assembled in Philadelphia, Pa., and Infrastructure at Quonset State Airport for Operations and Maintenance

Ørsted and Eversource sign first-ever U.S. Offshore Wind Helicopter Contract
Photo: Ørsted

Ørsted and Eversource have announced that HeliService International Inc. has been awarded the contract for helicopter crew change operations for the two companies’ joint venture wind projects in the Northeast United States. The contract is the first helicopter contract to support the United States offshore wind industry and will create jobs and economic development in both helicopter assembly and future operations.  

The Leonardo AW169 helicopters are powered by two Pratt and Whitney PW210 series engines and are capable of crew transport as well as utilizing a hoist system to lift wind technicians to and from the top of wind turbines. The aircraft will support crew transfer and hoisting at the South Fork Wind, Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind offshore wind farms during construction. They will be assembled on the Leonardo Helicopters assembly line in Philadelphia, Pa.

The contract will also bring approximately $1.8 million of investment to the Quonset State Airport in North Kingstown, R.I. in the form of new infrastructure and equipment, and will lead to the creation of multiple jobs. Upgrades at the Airport will include new check-in and reception spaces, handling and administrative buildings for helicopter operations and upgrades to hangar and maintenance areas. 

Governor Dan McKee said:

"The Ocean State is a leader in offshore wind energy, and this agreement will help strengthen the industry, create jobs and spur economic development, and further our sustainable, affordable, clean energy goals."

Photo: HeliService

David Ortiz, Head of Northeast Government Affairs and Market Strategy at Ørsted, said:

“This helicopter contract represents just one of the many important ways the offshore wind industry is supporting manufacturing and assembly jobs and infrastructure upgrades, both in Rhode Island and across the United States.”

Julia Bovey, Director of Offshore Wind External Affairs at Eversource Energy, said:

“Offshore wind has tremendous potential to create well-paying jobs in communities across the country. As we continue to transition to a new, clean energy future – one powered by the untapped potential of renewable energy – we are once again making good on our promise to help create a new supply chain here at home that will benefit American workers for years to come.”

Once complete, South Fork Wind, Sunrise Wind and Revolution Wind will generate approximately 1.8 GW of offshore wind power, enough to power over a million homes.

Through their joint venture projects, Ørsted and Eversource are supporting the development of a domestic offshore wind supply chain that will create jobs and economic development across dozens of states. The companies recently announced that work has begun on the first U.S.-built service operations vessel (SOV), and crew transfer vessel charter agreements that will support the building of five new vessels in Rhode Island shipyards.