The state of Massachusetts has approved Ocean Winds’ 1287MW SouthCoast Wind 1 plans for the construction and operation of onshore transmission facilities at Brayton Point in Somerset.
The state’s Department of Environmental Protection has also granted a license for project-related nearshore equipment and work, while the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management signed off on the project’s Federal Consistency Review.
Ocean Winds says the approvals keep the project on track to deliver energy to the grid by 2030.
“These important permitting milestones bring our project closer to construction. We are grateful to the Commonwealth’s thorough review and look forward to providing clean power, good jobs and economic growth to the region,” said Jennifer Flood, Head of Permitting for SouthCoast Wind and Ocean Winds North America.
The array’s lease area is located in federal waters 23 miles south of Nantucket, and its proposed cable route runs through federal and Massachusetts state waters, Rhode Island’s Sakonnet River, across a portion of Portsmouth, RI and into Mt. Hope Bay.
Project construction is expected in late 2025.