Iberdrola has made a multi-billion dollar pledge to invest in three offshore wind projects totalling 2800MW in Massachusetts.
The Spanish firm will invest US$10bn (€8.8bn) in the development of the sites Iberdrola chairman Ignacio Galán (pictured:left) agreed at a meeting held today with the Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker (pictured:right).
Galan also explained the group’s growth plan in the United States for the period 2020-2025, which will enable it to double its renewable generation capacity and boost the country’s decarbonisation.
Galan said: “Our projects in Massachusetts will be fundamental to achieving the US goal of reaching 30,000MW of wind energy by 2030, and with them we will generate industrial development and employment.”
Ignacio Galán also met with Maura Healey, Attorney General of the State of Massachusetts, to whom he also conveyed Iberdrola’s commitment to investment in clean energy in the state.
In Massachusetts, Iberdrola is developing 2800MW of offshore wind in three different projects and is developing an interconnection line with a capacity of 1200MW to transport hydroelectric power from Canada.
Together, Iberdrola’s projects will meet 35% of the state’s electricity demand with clean and competitive energy, while helping to create around 4,000 jobs during construction over the next few years, the company said.
Construction recently began on the 800MW Vineyard Wind One, the country’s first large-scale offshore wind farm, a JV with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners through Iberdrola subsidiary Avangrid Renewables.
Avangrid was also awarded a contract for the Commonwealth Wind offshore wind farm in Massachusetts in December.
The 1232MW project, New England’s largest offshore wind project to date, will involve a $4bn investment and create 11,000 jobs.
As part of the project, Iberdrola is promoting the installation of a submarine cable factory in the state on the site of a former coal-fired power plant.
Also under development in the same area is Park City Wind, an 804MW project that will supply clean energy to customers in Connecticut, while revitalising the Port of Bridgeport, home to the operation and maintenance office and warehouse for the components for construction.
The project is expected to be completed in 2027.
Avangrid also owns the Kitty Hawk development area (2500MW) in the waters off North Carolina and Virginia and has begun the permitting process with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for the 800MW Kitty Hawk North wind farm, the first project planned in this area.