{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-lauds-approval-block-island-wind-farm-transmission-line", "RI Delegation Lauds Approval of Block Island Wind Farm Transmission Line", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "David Cicilline", "C001084", "cicilline.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Yesterday the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has offered a right-of-way (ROW) grant to Deepwater Wind Block Island Transmission System, LLC (Deepwater Wind) for the Block Island Transmission System (BITS).\u00a0 The announcement paves the way for the installation of a transmission line to carry energy from the Block Island Wind Farm to the Rhode Island mainland, and to give island residents access to the mainland electric grid.\nU.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, strong supporters of the offshore wind project, released the statements below praising the announcement:\n\u201cThis decision by the BOEM marks the first right-of-way grant offered in federal waters for renewable energy transmission, a significant distinction for Rhode Island.\u00a0 As the country reduces its dependence on oil, coal, and other fossil fuels, Rhode Island has the potential to benefit from this emerging renewable energy industry, while helping to chart its future,\u201d said Senator Jack Reed (D-RI).\n\u201cThe Block Island Wind Farm will bring cleaner and more affordable energy to Block Island\u2019s residents while helping Rhode Island access the tremendous economic and environmental potential of our offshore wind,\u201d said Whitehouse.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a milestone in our nation\u2019s transition to a clean energy economy, and I\u2019m proud that Rhode Island is leading the way.\u201d\n\u201cRhode Island has championed so many environmental conservation efforts and we are truly leading by example with the country's first offshore wind farm. \u00a0This exciting news from BOEM is further evidence of our state's important role in a nationwide movement to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and create a cleaner, more sustainable energy infrastructure now and for the future,\u201d said Congressman Langevin, a founding member and energy task force chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.\n\u201cRhode Island is leading the way in a clean energy future and this announcement marks important progress in the Ocean State and across the nation in harnessing renewable energy sources,\u201d said Cicilline. \u00a0\u201cI'm pleased to join with my colleagues in supporting this project, and I look forward to charting the economic and environmental progress this project represents in the coming years.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/ri-delegation-lauds-approval-block-island-wind-farm-transmission-line"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8159798346459866, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}