Senator Jack Reed

Reed Celebrates Construction of Block Island Wind Farm Support Vessel

Senator Reed joined representatives from Deepwater Wind, Blount Boats and Rhode Island Fast Ferry, and other elected officials to celebrate the construction of a new support vessel to service the Block Island Wind Farm project.

The support vessel is now under construction at Blount Boats’ Warren shipyard, where approximately 70 Rhode Islanders are working to build the 70-foot catamaran, the first of its kind in the United States.  The ship is scheduled to be put into service by the spring of 2016. 

Rhode Island Fast Ferry’s Atlantic Wind Transfers contracted with Blount Boats to build the vessel locally and will provide crew and equipment support during the construction of the Block Island Wind Farm.  Once the wind farm is up and running, Rhode Island Fast Ferry will provide operations and maintenance support for the next 20 years.

The Block Island Wind Farm is the first offshore wind farm in construction in the United States. 

Reed, RI Department of Health, Community Partners Team Up for SunSmarts Beach Screening Campaign

Seeking to spread the word on skin cancer prevention and detection, U.S. Senator Jack Reed teamed up with the Rhode Island Department of Health, The Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, and other medical professionals to promote the 2015 SunSmarts campaign, which offers free skin cancer screenings at local beaches around the state. 

The campaign brings together public health officials, doctors, and dermatologists who are volunteering their time and expertise to offer free skin cancer screenings for beachgoers and to help educate the public about effective sun protection.

Conducted in a private setting by board certified dermatologists and dermatology residents affiliated with University Dermatology, the free skin cancer screenings include a visual inspection of a patient’s skin by a medical professional with no blood work required.  A typical screening takes about 15 minutes and officials hope to screen about 500 beach goers.

The first come, first served screenings -- which have been taking place at selected beaches throughout the summer -- will be offered at Roger Wheeler Beach (Sand Hill Cove Beach) in Narragansett today, and later this month at Misquamicut Beach in Westerly (August 21).

Reed Sets Sail with U.S. Coast Guard, Unveils Stamp Commemorating USCG's 225th Anniversary

Marking the 225th anniversary of the United States Coast Guard, Senator Reed climbed aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle in Newport and spent the morning sailing with the dedicated men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Following the sail, Senator Reed helped unveil a new "forever" postage stamp commemorating the 225th anniversary of the USCG.

Reed Visits Coventry Summer Camp to Highlight Sun Safety Efforts

Senator Reed visited the Coventry Summer Recreation Program to learn about their innovative efforts to instill safe sun practices in campers at a young age.

The summer camp run by the Coventry Recreation Department has implemented a successful skin cancer prevention program that encourages campers to properly apply and re-apply sunscreen every two hours between 10:00 a.m. and 3 p.m., and throughout the day as needed.

Skin Cancer is the most common form of cancer, with more than 3.5 million skin cancers in over 2 million people diagnosed annually.  Reed has made skin cancer prevention efforts a priority in Congress.

Reed Welcomes U.S. Interior Secretary to RI to Celebrate Construction of Nation’s First Offshore Wind Farm

Senator Reed welcomed U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell to Rhode Island to join Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper, Governor Gina Raimondo, the congressional delegation, and representatives of Deepwater Wind to celebrate an historic “steel in the water” milestone for America’s first commercial scale offshore wind farm off Block Island.

The celebration included a boat tour of the project site to provide a close look at the turbine foundation work underway.

Deepwater Wind is constructing a five-turbine, 30-megawatt wind farm in state waters about three nautical miles southeast of Block Island. At 589 feet above sea level, the turbines will be among the tallest in the world. The project, scheduled to be online in 2016, is expected to power about 17,000 homes. It is the first project of its kind in the United States.

“Getting to this point has truly been a collaborative effort, and I would like to recognize all my colleagues, as well as Governor Raimondo and the state leadership for their efforts to position Rhode Island as a leader in clean, renewable energy.  I am proud of the work being done here to help protect our environment, reduce long-term energy costs, support our local businesses, and create sustainable jobs.  Together, we can build a local green energy industry here in the Ocean State for years to come,” said Senator Reed.

Reed Hosts Medal Ceremony for Cranston WWII Veteran

Senator Reed hosted a medal ceremony to honor World War II Veteran, Edward J. Imperatore, 93, of Cranston with the military honors he earned but never received during his service in the United States Navy.

Born in Providence in January 1922, Mr. Imperatore was just 20 years old when he enlisted in the Navy in October 1942.

Among other posts during the war, Mr. Imperatore served aboard the USS Marabout, a coastal minesweeper whose mission was to ensure safe passage for Allied ships.

Reed presented Mr. Imperatore with the military honors he earned, including the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button, among others.