RI Delegation Slams Visit by Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Days after Sudden Stop-Work Order on Revolution Wind

Providence, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today issued the following joint statement calling on Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer to visit with trades workers put out of work by the Trump administration’s stop-work order freezing construction on Revolution Wind:

“The Trump administration’s reckless decision to halt work on the nearly finished Revolution Wind project is a betrayal of the Ocean State trades workers who have prepared for lifelong careers in offshore wind.  Rhode Island is deeply invested in the success of our blue economy, and proud of our efforts to build out a nation-leading offshore wind workforce.  Instead of having her staff make a giant banner of the President to hang at the Labor Department, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer would be wise to listen to and learn from the hardworking Rhode Islanders that the Trump administration put out of work this Labor Day weekend in their corrupt quest to crush clean energy.  We hope she does so on this trip.”

Last Friday, the Trump Administration issued a stop-work order halting construction on Revolution Wind.  The project is 80% complete: all foundations are in place and 45 of 65 turbines have been installed.  Once completed, Revolution Wind will power 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut with reliable, affordable, union-built energy.  The project has employed more than 1,000 local union workers and completed more than 2 million union work hours.  The project underpins nearly $1.3 billion in state investment, new shipbuilding jobs, and critical upgrades to Rhode Island’s ports, shipyards, and supply chain.  

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