ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) supporting the development of an offshore wind farm in Jamaica.  The feasibility study will evaluate the viability of installing the wind farm, which would represent one of the first offshore wind installations in Jamaica and the greater Caribbean region.

This project offers potential export opportunities for a range of U.S. equipment and services related to the design, development, and operation of offshore wind power generation and transmission infrastructure.

PCJ selected Keystone Engineering Inc. (KEI), a Louisiana-based energy firm specializing in the engineering, design, procurement, project management and construction support for offshore wind and oil and gas platforms, to conduct the study.  KEI was the foundation design-engineer for the first offshore wind farm installed in the United States, the 30 MW Block Island Wind Farm off the coast of Rhode Island.

“We are pleased to partner with PCJ and KEI on this important project,” said Nathan Younge, USTDA’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.  “The study will help to develop new energy resources and create potential commercial opportunities for U.S. technologies in Jamaica.”

“The Government of Jamaica has identified renewable energy development as a major pillar in its strategy for energy security,” said Winston Watson, Group General Manager of the PCJ. “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.”

“Keystone is excited to work with PCJ on this project and be a part of the first steps in bringing a new generation technology to Jamaica,” said Ben Foley, General Manager of KEI’s Offshore Renewables Group. “We are optimistic that we can use this study to realize a corporeal offshore wind farm in the near future.”

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