Bluepoint Wind CEO John Dempsey with Students 2 Science participants. – Bluepoint Wind
Bluepoint Wind, a 30-person-strong offshore wind company headquartered in the Ironbound section of Newark, wants to be known as a company that does more than just work on offshore wind projects.
CEO John Dempsey said Bluepoint Wind wants to be known as a company that gives back to the community — especially next-generation STEM students.
Dempsey said that’s why Bluepoint Wind has spent the past 18 months investing time, energy and funding, through grants and other initiatives, toward supporting a wide range of educational development and outreach opportunities around science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.
“When we think about creating a clean energy future, that also includes our responsibility to prepare the workforce of the future — and instilling a curiosity and passion for innovation through STEM is the first step,” he said.
Dempsey said Bluepoint Wind is working with organizations such as Students 2 Science to create offshore wind challenges for middle-schoolers to helping similar organizations develop a real-world curriculum around building a wind farm. It’s also funding programs such as the Rutgers 4-H STEM Ambassadors, which encourages STEM learning and civic engagement, to providing teachers with hands-on resources and training to teach about clean energy in their classrooms, to serving on various out-of-school and K-12 workforce panels and community working groups to provide industry perspective on workforce development.
“We are proud to support STEM programs, because all students deserve an opportunity to be inspired by the possibilities that come with studying these disciplines,” Dempsey said.
Dempsey said Bluepoint Wind believes the future workforce for the offshore wind industry will draw heavily from the STEM fields, and, by uplifting STEM programming in underserved communities, its aim is to demonstrate a way for industry to support a diverse and inclusive green workforce that welcomes those who have been underrepresented in the STEM fields.
About Bluepoint Wind
Bluepoint Wind is a partnership between Ocean Winds, an international offshore wind energy company, and New York-based Global Infrastructure Partners. Together, these companies have a successful track record of over 50 years of experience in development, financing, construction and operation of renewables projects, including more than 16 years on offshore wind projects.
Bluepoint Wind plans to build an offshore wind farm within its ocean lease area, located 38 nautical miles off the coast of New York and 53 nm off the coast of New Jersey. At full capacity, this wind farm will be able to generate 2.4 gigawatts of clean wind energy — powering up to 1 million homes and helping New York and New Jersey meet their ambitious carbon emissions reduction goals.
Whether you are a project engineer, environmental scientist or working in the trades on the construction side of the project, STEM education is key to accessing opportunities in offshore wind, he said.
Paul Winslow, co-founder and president of Students 2 Science, agrees. That’s why he asked Dempsey to join the board.
“We are thrilled to welcome John to the Students 2 Science board of trustees and for his ongoing support of S2S and our efforts to empower students to pursue a future in STEM,” he said. “His expertise in the energy sector will be a tremendous asset. I look forward to working with him to build the next generation energy workforce and to ensure STEM education is accessible to all students in New Jersey.”
Janice McDonnell of the 4-H Youth Development at Rutgers University agreed.
“The 4-H STEM Ambassador program at Rutgers University is pleased to partner with Bluepoint Wind to provide 60 young people (grades 6-12) from New Jersey’s urban communities with STEM learning experiences that help them build their capacity in STEM,” she said. “As we begin work with our 16th cohort, we look forward to helping them realize their potential in pursuing STEM careers.”