OCEAN CITY, Del.- The Junior Achievements Inspire event came to the Ocean City Convention Center, with over 3,000 eighth grade students and more than 100 vendors. One energy company known to the Eastern Shore showed eighth grade students what jobs their company offers. Orsted, the company in charge of the Skipjack Wind farm project had a booth with small scale wind turbines and gear their technicians use. The students came out to learn about different aspects of career development. They were able to visit more the vendors and learn about different aspects of their job. Orsted took the opportunity to teach the students about localizing jobs for their upcoming project. Representatives of Orsted took today to get the turbines spinning in the heads of eighth graders. Matt Drew, a representative with Orsted said, "Kids have a variety of things they can be exposed to and help them start to make a decision process about what they want to do and what they want to do for the rest of their lives." Students talked to Orsted about turbines and renewable energy. Orsted had small designs of wind turbines that were powered by a fan to simulate the real deal. But the company also had safety equipment for kids to try on. 8th graders at the event in Ocean City were able to try on equipment. Orsted says there is a safety helmet a climbing harness and this is what wind farm technicians wear on a daily basis to ensure their safety. Caleb Scott and Eighth Grader from Bennett Middle School says it's easier not being in actual danger on the job. "No I'd be too scared," Scott said about if he could do their job. He said seeing what a job with Orsted has to offer was cool. "Just the equipment that they use and the models that they have was cool." But the energy company was not the only vendor there. Chesapeake Utilities also had a very large set up for the students to check out, and wanted them to take a lot out of today's event. Jared Shelton, with Chesapeake Utilities said, "Come away from the event as a whole being inspired. I think the hash-tag is get inspired Delmarva which we really like. From our particular exhibition we want them to realize that it's important to interact with our product natural gas safely." But wind farms definitely had a large portion of the attention.With the idea of wind farms coming miles off the coast of Delmarva, Orsted says their Skipjack project will generate over 25,000 jobs for Maryland. Recently the Public Service Commission n Maryland said they will open up evidentiary hearings once the size and location of the turbines is finalized. Which is what the town of Ocean City has been asking for. Rick Meehan, the Ocean City Mayor said, "Our goal is to work together to get the project right, to do it right the first time and if in fact it is approved make sure it satisfies the concerns for everybody." And Orsted is more than happy to cooperate with the process. Drew said, "Because it gives us the opportunity to bring more public comment in through the permitting process that we're already underway." Currently Orsted is still awaiting necessary permits, and DNREC has yet to make a decision about whether the power lines will come on shore to Fenwick Island State Park. There is no set date yet on when the Evidentiary hearings are actually going to start, but once the size and location of the turbines is set the Public Service Commission will be able to set a date for those hearings.
Junior Achievements Inspire Event Comes to Ocean City
