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    1. Renewable Energy

    Vineyard Wind, Crowley and Salem to transform harbor into offshore wind port

    Sept. 30, 2021
    Goal is to create second major offshore wind port in Massachusetts.
    Related To: Crowley
    Courtesy Vineyard Wind
    Schematic of the proposed Salem Harbor Station.
    Schematic of the proposed Salem Harbor Station.

    Offshore staff

    SALEM, Mass. – Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) have announced that the company has entered into an agreement with Crowley Maritime Corp. and the City of Salem (Mass.) to create a public-private partnership aimed at establishing Salem Harbor as the state’s second major offshore wind port.

    The agreement, part of the “Commonwealth Wind” proposal, is contingent upon the company winning an award by the State of Massachusetts, which is currently evaluating offshore wind procurement bids. 

    Vineyard Wind estimates that the project would create up to an estimated 400 full time equivalent (FTE) job years during the revitalization of the port and up to another 500 FTEs over the first five years of operation for construction and staging for wind projects and day-to-day port operations, for a total of 900 FTE job years.  

    Under the terms of the proposed agreement, Crowley, through its New Energy subsidiary Crowley Wind Services, will purchase the 42 acres surrounding Salem Harbor Station, currently owned by Footprint Power LLC, and will serve as the long-term offshore wind port operator for the site. Vineyard Wind’s partners (Avangrid Renewables and CIP) will serve as the port’s anchor tenants, utilizing the property for the Commonwealth Wind project as well as other projects in the company’s portfolio.

    The Commonwealth Wind project intends to use the site for turbine assembly and staging activities, utilizing the site to store and assemble components – including blades, nacelles, and tower sections – as they are prepared for offshore installation. Given Salem Harbor’s deep-water port and unrestricted height access to accommodate large-scale wind turbine installation vessels, Vineyard Wind says that it sees Salem Harbor as a necessary addition to support the offshore wind industry within the Commonwealth and across the region.

    Lars T. Pedersen, CEO of Vineyard Wind, said: “As offshore wind continues to expand, new purpose-built ports will be key to the success of this industry. By constructing the nation’s first purpose-built offshore wind port in New Bedford, Massachusetts has been leading the way. With a new offshore wind port in Salem, the Commonwealth can ensure that it is ready to face the demands of a rapidly growing industry. With both New Bedford and Salem capable of delivering port operations needed for offshore wind, the state can ensure that both the South Coast and the North Shore can benefit from the creation of new, highly skilled and good paying jobs, something that will cement Massachusetts’ position as a leader in the new and growing offshore wind industry.” 

    09/30/2021