The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office (MEPA) has requested a supplemental filing to the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Vineyard Wind Connector project.
Vineyard Wind, the developer of an 800MW offshore wind project some 14 miles off Martha’s Vineyard, submitted the DEIR in early May.
Subsequent to the filing of the DEIR, Vineyard Wind was selected to advance to contract negotiations for 800MW of wind energy.
Following the review of the DEIR, the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matthew A. Beaton ”concluded that an additional procedural review step, preparation of a Supplemental DEIR (SDEIR), will serve the shared interests of the Commonwealth and project Proponent in a robust and transparent review while providing a clear process and timeframe for action.”
Secretary Beaton also added that ”the DEIR submitted on this project does not adequately and properly comply with the MEPA and its implementing regulations (301 CMR 11.00), notwithstanding the responsiveness of the DEIR.”
MEPA review of the Vineyard Wind, the first large offshore wind project in US waters, ” can serve to streamline and strengthen subsequent permitting and review to the benefit of the public, permitting agencies and project proponents by providing a comprehensive overview of the project, alternatives, potential environmental impacts and measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate Damage to the Environment.
In a response to the request for a Supplemental DEIR and the extension of the public comment period, Vineyard Wind said that the request presents another opportunity for substantive, constructive conversations about the project.
“We encourage any interested party to share their insights, concerns and thinking so that when comments are submitted prior to the Final EIR, they are robust and informed,” said Erich Stephens , Chief Development Officer with Vineyard Wind.
”Our goal remains to ensure a deliberate, transparent, and complete assessment of the Vineyard Wind Connector project, which we continue to refine in order to ensure no substantial or lasting environmental impacts. By incorporating additional input now, we can front load work that had been scheduled for later in the year as part of the Final EIR while also facilitating review by local and regional agencies.”
The proposed Vineyard Wind Connector is comprised of subsea and subsurface electrical transmission lines and a new substation that will connect the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm to the Massachusetts electric grid.
The Vineyard Wind offshore wind turbine array, located approximately 34 miles south of the Cape Cod mainland, calls for a grid connection point to an existing substation in an industrial park in Barnstable with no changes to the existing electrical transmission.