Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) has announced plans for the expansion and improvement of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, which will service the US offshore wind industry.
The 30-acre purpose-built facility is being constructed and operated by MassCEC for the construction, assembly, and deployment of offshore wind projects.
MassCEC said that the expansion is needed to maintain and increase Massachusetts’ competitiveness by supporting the anticipated increased demand for port facilities that can deploy the larger, heavier turbine parts.
In response, it will acquire four abutting properties, the redevelopment of an existing legacy bulkhead with a new high bearing capacity quayside, and the relocation and construction of a new office and warehouse building.
When completed the project will expand the available heavy-lift storage area by five acres to a total of 26 contiguous acres (24% increase in area), increase the total heavy-lift quayside available at the terminal to 1,200 linear feet, and provide additional office and warehouse space and functionality for terminal tenants.
MassCEC said that the move had been informed by a strategic planning process and with specific input from offshore wind project developers, wind turbine manufacturers, global marine transportation and installation companies, and port engineering consultants.
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center chief executive Dr Emily Reichert said: “One of MassCEC’s top priorities is to support the growing offshore wind industry in Massachusetts through the strategic development of port infrastructure.
“The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal has provided the area necessary to stage one of the nation’s first commercial scale offshore wind projects, and this expansion will position the site as a long-term clean energy asset for the Commonwealth.”
The project team is currently advancing site design concepts, filing for required permits, and procuring contractors for the work scopes. The anticipated completion date for the expansion project is December 2026.