The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has approved Avangrid’s New England Wind 1&2 Construction and Operations Plan (COP) with a total capacity of up to 2600MW.
The COP authorises construction and operation of two wind energy projects off the east coast of the US and is the final approval of these two sites from BOEM, following the agency’s April 2024 Record of Decision.
The COP for the two schemes includes up to 129 wind turbines, up to five electric service platforms, and up to five offshore export cables transmitting electricity to onshore transmission systems in the town of Barnstable and Bristol County, Massachusetts.
BOEM considered valuable feedback from tribes, other government agencies, ocean users, and others prior to today’s milestone decision.
The feedback resulted in required measures to avoid, minimise, or mitigate any potential impacts from the project on marine life and other important ocean uses, such as fishing.
“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to advancing offshore wind energy projects like New England Wind to create jobs, drive economic growth, and cut harmful climate pollution,” said BOEM director Elizabeth Klein.
“We are proud to announce BOEM’s final approval of the New England Wind projects.
“They represent a major milestone in our efforts to expand clean energy production and combat climate change.”
The approval will permit the construction and operation of two offshore wind energy facilities, known as New England Wind 1 and New England Wind 2, which together will have a total capacity of up to 2.6GW.
The two projects are situated approximately 20 nautical miles (nm) south of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and about 24nm southwest of Nantucket, Massachusetts.
The American Clean Power Association (ACP) vice president for offshore wind Anne Reynolds said: “This decision furthers the renewable energy infrastructure New England needs to meet electricity demands, strengthen the grid, and provide clean air for its citizens.
“ACP commends BOEM’s continued commitment to offshore wind as an important and critical source of energy for the country’s future.”
Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of the Interior has approved eight commercial-scale offshore wind energy projects in federal waters, and BOEM has held four offshore wind lease sales, including offshore New York, New Jersey, the Carolinas, and the first-ever sales offshore the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts.
The department recently announced a schedule of up to 12 additional lease sales through 2028 and continues to take steps to promote union-built projects and a domestic-based supply chain.