Vineyard Wind is partnering with Marmon Utility to deliver array cabling for the up to 1200MW Park City Wind offshore project off Connecticut.
The agreement calls for Marmon Utility to establish manufacturing capabilities at its Connecticut facility producing Kerite cables to supply some or all of the array cable cores that will be needed for Park City Wind.
The agreement will go into effect if Vineyard Wind is awarded long-term contracts from Connecticut in response to the latter’s 2019 offshore wind solicitation.
Under the planned partnership, Marmon Utility will invest up to $4m to hire personnel and make equipment upgrades in the Kerite power cable facility.
This will allow the company to manufacture specific array cables needed for the Park City Wind project.
Vineyard Wind is committed to selecting the Kerite cable brand as its preferred cable supplier for at least 50% of the project as part of the deal.
The supply contract would lead to nearly $40m in direct expenditures in Connecticut, while the Seymour facility expansion would create an estimated 35 permanent jobs.
Over the next decade, the expanded facility could create up to 350 jobs and almost $400m in direct revenue in Connecticut, the companies said.
Vineyard Wind chief executive Lars Thaaning Pedersen said: “The partnership between Vineyard Wind and Marmon Utility to establish the first American tier 1 offshore wind supplier in Connecticut is an incredible opportunity for the state to truly develop a world-class offshore wind industry.
“Today’s announcement is an exciting step in the right direction but it is only the beginning.
“Similar to the aerospace sector, we believe that manufacturers all over the state can be a part of this emerging industry, creating long-term jobs and economic opportunity for Connecticut residents.”
Marmon Utility power cable president Angelo Santamaria said: “Marmon Utility is excited about the opportunity to partner with an innovative company like Vineyard Wind and become the first American tier 1 offshore wind supplier of power cables.
“A contract of this magnitude will create Connecticut manufacturing jobs, generate economic opportunity, and establish the Marmon Utility and our Kerite brand of power cables in the emerging renewable energy sector for decades to come.”
Vineyard Wind submitted its Park City Wind proposal on 30 September to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The submission includes options to develop an up to 1.2GW project.