NEW BEDFORD – Vineyard Wind has submitted its Supplemental Draft Environment Impact Report to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office.
The latest report, which incorporates additional offshore studies conducted during the spring and summer, will further ensure that the public will have an opportunity to comment on the project that will construct an 800-megawatt wind farm 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard.
The report includes studies that provide more details about the project’s offshore cable route, including an oceanographic study of Lewis Bay.
The Lewis Bay survey is thought to be among the most comprehensive and detailed studies of the area ever conducted.
The data will further inform the constructive dialogue that Vineyard Wind has engaged with several stakeholders, including Cape Cod residents, state and federal agencies, advocacy groups, fishermen and natural resource regulators and managers.
The public comment period for the document will run through October 5.
Comments can be emailed to [email protected] or by mail to:
Matthew Beaton, Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
ATTN: MEPA Office
Purvi Patel, EEA No. 15787 (Vineyard Wind Connector)
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston, MA 02114
The report is available at www.vineyardwind.com. It is also available for review at the Hyannis Public Library, South Yarmouth Library and West Yarmouth Library.
Vineyard Wind was chosen as the state’s first offshore wind project in May. It will be the largest in the United States.
The proposal was selected by the Commonwealth’s Electric Distribution Companies to move forward into contract negotiations.
In 2016, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bipartisan energy bill that authorized the largest procurement of renewable energy generation in Massachusetts’ history, including approximately 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind energy.
The 800-megawatt wind farm south of Martha’s Vineyard will generate enough electricity to power 400,000 homes.
Officials will also begin meeting with businesses and suppliers to discuss contracts for components and materials for the wind farm development.
The new industry is expected to spur economic development in the state and provide numerous job opportunities.
A recent report by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center found that the generation of 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind would create between 2,270 and 3,170 job years. A job year is defined as one person working full-time for one year.
Earlier this year, Vineyard Wind announced a $2 million commitment to job training and career development in the region.
Through the “Windward Workforce” initiative, Vineyard Wind would partner with local community colleges, vocational high schools and other institutions to train students to fill jobs on its proposed wind farm, along with future projects.
Preparations for constructing the turbines would begin at the end of 2019 in the port town of New Bedford.
Offshore work would start at the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021.
Vineyard Wind was picked by Massachusetts over two other proposals, Bay State Wind and Deepwater Wind.
Through Massachusetts solicitation for offshore wind energy, the state of Rhode Island announced it would begin contract negotiations with Deepwater Wind on its proposed 400-megawatt development – Revolution Wind.
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
