The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has approved the SouthCoast Wind Project, which is expected to generate up to 2.4 GW of offshore wind energy for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This marks the 11th commercial-scale offshore wind project approved under the Biden administration.
Project Details
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland stated, “The approval of the SouthCoast Wind Project today demonstrates the strength of our collaborative process to deploy offshore wind.” BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein added, “As we mark this achievement, we look forward to the meaningful economic opportunities the SouthCoast Wind Project will bring to this region, both during construction and throughout the project’s lifetime.”
The project area spans approximately 127,388 acres, located about 26 nautical miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and 20 nautical miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The approved project will consist of up to 141 turbines and up to five offshore substations, with as many as eight export cables making landfall in Brayton Point or Falmouth, Massachusetts.
Environmental Considerations
To mitigate potential environmental impacts, BOEM removed up to six turbines from the northeastern portion of SouthCoast Wind’s original proposal to reduce effects on foraging habitats and potential displacement of wildlife adjacent to Nantucket Shoals.
In September, Massachusetts awarded the first phase of SouthCoast Wind a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 1,087 MW, while neighboring Rhode Island agreed to purchase 200 MW from the project.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Press Release
- Massachusetts Energy Office
- Rhode Island Renewable Energy News
