Offshore staff
NEW BEDFORD, Massachusetts – The Interior and Commerce departments have approved the construction and operation of the first commercial scale offshore wind project in the US.
The 800-MW Vineyard Wind 1 project will be located 15 mi (24 km) off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard.
Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, is expected to reach financial close in the second half of 2021.
The project will include 62 GE Haliade-X 13-MW wind turbines. First power is expected in 2023.
According to Vineyard Wind, it will generate electricity to power more than 400,000 homes and businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million tons per year.
The construction and operations plan was reviewed by more than two dozen federal, state, and local agencies over the course of more than three and a half years, the company said.
National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) President Erik Milito said: “The greenlight of the Vineyard Wind project is an American energy milestone. Along with the 400,000 homes that will soon be powered by the Vineyard Wind project, an entire supply chain is ready to mobilize and get to work, providing Americans with thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of investment. American offshore wind is a generational opportunity, and its outlook is more certain with the Vineyard Wind record of decision.
“NOIA applauds the Department of the Interior and President Biden for making offshore wind a priority. President Biden can continue this offshore wind momentum through the continued permitting of projects in the queue and the implementation a regular and predictable timeline of future lease opportunities.”
05/11/2021
