The developers of the 800MW Vineyard Wind project off Massachusetts have today formally endorsed a transit corridor plan for fishing vessels working in federal waters near the proposed development.
The corridor has been previously supported by fishermen from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Long Island, as well as the US Coast Guard, they said.
By formally announcing its support for fishery transit lanes directly through the middle of Vineyard Wind’s lease area, the developers hope to accommodate fishermen that need to navigate the wind farm to reach fishing grounds south and east of Cape Cod.
Vineyard Wind also called on other current and future wind developers with lease areas offshore of Rhode Island and Massachusetts to back the proposed fishery transit corridor plan.
The company added that at a recent meeting of fishermen, developers and federal agencies alternative plans were discussed, but no new consensus was achieved.
Therefore, it is formally endorsing the plan that continues to be supported by fishermen throughout the region.
“To be effective, all wind lease holders in the wind energy areas must adopt a coherent plan,” the company said.
Vineyard Wind chief development officer Erich Stephens said: “The fishing industry has placed a significant amount of time and energy into developing a transit corridor plan that works for them.
“Our team appreciates the work that the fishermen have done to address this and other important concerns.
“Wind developers must recognise the importance of locating transit lanes through their lease areas when those plans will accommodate the fishermen who work out of ports like Point Judith in Rhode Island and Montauk on Long Island.”
Vineyard Wind is jointly owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid Renewables.