Massachusetts offshore wind projects book staging spot

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has signed lease agreements with Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind to use the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal as the primary staging and deployment base for the construction and installation of their offshore wind projects.

The lease agreements commit the facility to full-time offshore wind work from 2023 into 2027 and are worth more than USD 32.5 million.

The Vineyard Wind lease is an amended and revised agreement to accommodate a shift in the project schedule stemming from additional review and permitting required by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

The new lease agreement for Mayflower Wind is based on an option to lease the terminal executed in August last year. 

Both leases contain limited provisions for shared use during limited time periods at the beginning and end of the lease period to provide flexibility in project schedules, the Commonwealth said.

“These lease agreements with Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind are another major milestone for offshore wind in Massachusetts,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “With this announcement, the Commonwealth continues its national leadership on clean energy and ensures Massachusetts workers will benefit from the jobs and economic opportunities provided by this new industry.”

Constructed and operated by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal is the first port in North America purpose-built to support the staging and installation of offshore wind components.

The 800 MW Vineyard Wind will comprise 84 MHI Vestas 9.5 MW turbines, installed some 22.5km south of Martha’s Vineyard and 56km off the coast of the Massachusetts mainland.

Mayflower Wind was chosen by the Commonwealth in 2019 to supply 804 MW of offshore wind capacity with the expected start-up in 2025.