US offshore wind developer Vineyard Wind has signed an agreement to lease the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal for a period of 18 months.
Vineyard Wind will utilize the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal as the primary staging and deployment location for its 800MW Vineyard Wind offshore wind project located 14 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard.
Constructed and operated by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal is a 29-acre heavy-lift facility designed to support the construction, assembly, and deployment of offshore wind projects, as well as handle bulk, break-bulk, container, and large specialty marine cargo.
The lease agreement between MassCEC and Vineyard Wind represents a commitment of USD 6 million annually.
Vineyard Wind was selected in May to provide 800MW of offshore wind power to Massachusetts and represents 5.5-6 percent of the state’s electric load. The final acceptance of the Vineyard Wind contract is conditional upon and the regulatory approval at the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), which is anticipated to be completed in early 2019. The project also requires permitting approval from state and federal agencies, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
“Vineyard Wind has made the Port of New Bedford and the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal a centerpiece of our proposal to build and operate an 800-megawatt wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts because we truly understand the importance of the excellent port infrastructure and an existing supply chain that’s available right here, ready to help make offshore wind a lasting success,” said Vineyard Wind CEO Lars Thaaning Pedersen .
“Vineyard Wind’s initial investment and the Commonwealth’s commitment to clean energy will pay enormous dividends, in particular creation of a robust, sustainable supply chain that will stimulate new jobs and economic activity here on the South Coast.”