Vineyard Wind 1 Wins BOEM Approval for First U.S. Commercial Offshore Wind Farm
On May 12, 2021,ย Vineyard Windย announced thatย Vineyard Wind 1 wins BOEM approvalย from the U.S. Department of the Interiorโsย Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). This decision represents the final major step in the federal review process and, as a result, it clears the way for the first U.S. commercialโscale offshore wind farm.
Vineyard Wind CEOย Lars T. Pedersenย said the Record of Decision does more than launch a single project. Instead, it helps start a new offshore wind industry in the United States and finally turns years of planning into jobs, economic benefits and clean energy.
Project Overview: 800 MW of Clean Power off Massachusetts
Vineyard Wind 1 is anย 800 MWย offshore wind project located aboutย 15 miles off Marthaโs Vineyard. The project will deliver enough power for more thanย 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts, and it will also cut carbon emissions by overย 1.6 million tons per year.
The project uses theย GE HaliadeโXย turbine, which deliversย 13 MWย per unit. Because each turbine is so powerful, Vineyard Wind cut the layout fromย 108 turbines to 62ย and still keeps the full 800 MW capacity for Massachusetts customers. In addition, the design places turbinesย one nautical mile apartย in a grid that theย U.S. Coast Guardย supports for safer navigation, fishing and transit.
Vineyard Wind plans to reach financial close in the second half of 2021. After that, the project aims to begin delivering clean energy to Massachusetts inย 2023.
Southwireโs Role: High-Voltage Cables from North Carolina
Vineyard Wind choseย Southwireย as a key supplier for the projectโs onshore highโvoltage cables. Southwire will manufacture more thanย 32 miles of highโvoltage cableย at itsย Huntersville, North Carolinaย facility, using its specialized underground transmission technology.
Southwireโs highโvoltage field services team will work with local labor to install the cables. Together, they plan to complete the onshore work by the first quarter ofย 2023, so the grid can receive power as the offshore wind farm comes online.
Vineyard Wind Ownership and Long Public Review
Vineyard Wind LLCย operates as a joint venture betweenย Avangrid Renewables, a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc., andย Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). Since 2017, they have guided Vineyard Wind 1 through a long public and regulatory review.
The project drew more thanย 30,000 public comments, and more thanย 90% supportedย Vineyard Wind 1. In addition, BOEM and over two dozen federal, state and local agencies reviewed the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) for more thanย three and a half yearsย before they issued final approval.
Strong Support from Leaders and Suppliers
Federal, state and local leaders welcomed the BOEM decision, and key suppliers also praised the news. Supporters include Massachusetts Governorย Charlie Baker, U.S. Senatorsย Edward Markeyย andย Elizabeth Warren, Congressmanย Bill Keating, Massachusetts Senate Presidentย Karen E. Spilka, Speaker of the Houseย Ronald J. Mariano, State Representativeย Patricia Haddad, New Bedford Mayorย Jon Mitchellย andย Frank Callahanย of the Massachusetts Building Trades.
They see Vineyard Wind 1 as a model for future offshore wind projects. In their view, it will deliver clean energy, create union jobs and help position Massachusettsโand the U.S. overallโas a leader in the global offshore wind industry.
