Mayflower Wind has unveiled key elements of the economic development programme attached to its proposals for its offshore wind bids in Massachusetts.
Mayflower submitted multiple bids, each with an accompanying economic development package.
Under the largest scenario, which involves interconnecting 1.2GW at Brayton Point, Mayflower is committing to spend up to $81m on its economic development programme.
The amount would support the building of the offshore wind supply chain; provide for education and training of an offshore wind workforce; make significant investments in local ports, businesses, and infrastructure; as well as offer diversity, equity, and inclusion measures that include the hiring of specialized firms and support for low-income electric consumers, among other measures.
Mayflower Wind CEO Michael Brown said: “Mayflower Wind is committed to Massachusetts and the South Coast.
“The bids we submitted were formulated after months of conversations with local stakeholders who shared with us their vision for the future of the offshore wind industry.
“We took those conversations very seriously and developed packages that incorporate their feedback and support each of their diverse groups.”
Mayflower Wind said it is committed to establishing an operations and maintenance (O&M) port in Fall River at the Borden & Remington Ironworks complex, as part of its offshore wind investments.
Brown added: “Our O&M port in Fall River and the National Offshore Wind Institute in New Bedford, which we are proud to support, will be twin anchors for a vibrant and growing offshore wind industry on the South Coast.”
Brown said Mayflower Wind has leased and “soft opened” an executive, outreach and development office at 99 South Main Street, Fall River, which will be fully operational this October.
The office location is close to the O&M port and a short commute to the New Bedford Waterfront that will be the home dock of Mayflower’s crew boats.
Nearly 90 letters of support for Mayflower’s proposals were included in its bid package.
Supporters include local community organizations and business organizations such as the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network, Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity, Fall River Redevelopment Authority, New Bedford Economic Development Council, and the One SouthCoast Chamber.
The Boston & New England Maritimes Trades Council and AFL-CIO also support the project, as noted in their letter, “The workers represented by the Boston & New England Maritimes Trade Council, AFL-CIO have ridden the tide of past maritime industry development and have long waited for Offshore Wind to provide the next great opportunity for our members and their communities.
“Mayflower Wind seems well positioned to realise upon that vision and we look forward to working with them going forward.”
Others that provided supportive letters include educational institutions such as UMass Dartmouth, Bristol Community College, and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and research organisations such as the New England Aquarium.
Earlier this year, the company announced it had purchased interconnection rights at Brayton Point, that had been originally developed by transmission developer Anbaric, to supplement its interconnection on the Cape.