Vineyard Wind 2 Offers Substantial Investments in MA, CT & RI While Building on the Success of the Pioneering First Project
(Boston, MA) – Vineyard Offshore, America’s leading offshore wind development company, has submitted a proposal for a 1,200 megawatt (MW) offshore wind project to Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island in response to the New England states’ solicitation for up to 6,800 MW of offshore wind capacity. The “Vineyard Wind 2” proposal builds on the many successes of Vineyard Wind 1 and includes more than 200 letters of support from local officials, suppliers, and stakeholders for all three states that will see positive economic impact from the proposed project. The proposal is further supported by a historic offshore wind tribal benefit agreement recently signed with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.
“As the team that developed Vineyard Wind 1, the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind project, Vineyard Offshore knows how to deliver offshore wind to New England, and that’s by earning the trust of the communities we work in,” said Vineyard Offshore CEO Alicia Barton. “Our project will deliver more than $2 billion in economic benefits, create opportunities for workers and local businesses, and build on partnerships with local governments, organizations, and institutions across all three states, and we have the local support to show for it.”
The proposed project will deliver 1,200 MW of clean, reliable energy to the New England grid, enough to power more than 650,000 homes, starting in 2031. Vineyard Wind 2 will avoid 2.1 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year across the region, equivalent to taking 414,000 cars off the road, as well as improve air quality and reduce pollution-related health costs and environmental impacts. The offshore wind facility will be located 29 miles south of Nantucket in lease area OCS-522, which is held by funds managed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), for which Vineyard Offshore serves as U.S. development partner.
The Vineyard Wind 2 project was proposed to each state as well as to the three states together under the New England solicitation process. In Vineyard Wind 2,Vineyard Offshore has put forward a comprehensive multi-state project that will provide substantial investments in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, responding to the solicitation’s aim of creating cross-cutting regional economic impact. These investments include:
- Offshore construction in Salem, Mass.:Salem Offshore Wind Terminal will be the staging site for wind turbine installation, providing hundreds of union jobs and boosting an emerging offshore wind workforce and supply chain on the North Shore.
- Foundation components in Providence, R.I.: Vineyard Offshore plans to source secondary steel components for foundations – internal and external platforms, boat landings, etc. – from Riggs Distler & Co., working at its current operation in the Port of Providence (ProvPort) or at a new site being developed in East Providence, utilizing union labor and regional subcontractors.
- Grid interconnection in Montville, Conn.:Export cable from Vineyard Wind 2 Wind will make landfall in New London and interconnect with the New England power grid in Montville, employing hundreds of union workers for construction of the onshore cable route and substation.
- Operations and Maintenance in New Bedford, Mass.: Operations and Maintenance (O&M) for the completed offshore wind facility will be located at the New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal, providing dozens of long-term jobs and strengthening the city of New Bedford, which is currently hosting construction of Vineyard Wind 1, as a regional hub for the offshore wind industry.
“By making effective use of ports, facilities, and interconnection points throughout the region, Vineyard Wind 2 offers the most economic project configuration possible while delivering economic benefits for all three states,” added Barton.
Development of Vineyard Wind 2 will generate approximately $2.3 billion in direct expenditure and 3,800 job-years of employment across New England, with over $1.5 billion realized in Massachusetts, along with 80% of regional employment. Electricity market impacts and other benefits totaling as much as $4.8 billion over 20 years from adding 1,200 MW of offshore wind to the New England grid include $600 million from reduced wholesale electricity market rates and avoidance of winter price spikes.
In addition, Vineyard Wind 2 will provide up to $37.5 million in directly funded initiatives to promote a diverse and inclusive offshore wind workforce and supply chain, position the region as a global climate innovation lab, address energy burdens in low- and moderate-income households, and advance regional research efforts in fisheries and the environment.
Vineyard Offshore will apply its uniquely community-focused approach to the Vineyard Wind 2 project. As demonstrated in the successful Vineyard Wind 1 project, the Vineyard Offshore team puts communities first, forming deep partnerships that share the benefits of offshore wind development and earn the trust of key constituencies.
“With states, local communities, partners, and stakeholders alike, Vineyard Offshore promises only what we can deliver, and delivers what we promise,” added Barton.
As testament to this commitment, Vineyard Offshore submitted with its proposal more than 200 letters of support from local officials, businesses, and stakeholders, including the mayors of Salem, New London, and Montville; local businesses that have become suppliers for the offshore wind industry; environmental groups and community organizations; and numerous fishermen and vessel owners.
The coordinated offshore wind procurement by Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island represents a unique opportunity to deliver clean energy and economic benefits across the region. Vineyard Wind 2 offers the optimal pathway to achieving the states’ vision for a clean, affordable, and reliable 21st century grid, while our track record and ongoing focus on community engagement, cost-effectiveness, and project deliverability make Vineyard Offshore a trusted partner for New England for years to come.
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About Vineyard Offshore
Vineyard Offshore is leading the development of two lease areas in the Northeast, in addition to a lease area off the coast of Northern California, OCS-P 0562. Lease area OCS-A 522, known as Vineyard Northeast, is located off the coast of Massachusetts. OCS-A 544, known as Vineyard Mid-Atlantic and home to the Excelsior Wind Project, is located in the New York Bight. Combined with its joint venture development of the first-in-the-nation offshore wind project, Vineyard Wind 1, now under construction, Vineyard Offshore has the potential to develop more than 6 gigawatts of clean, renewable and affordable energy on the East and West Coasts of the United States. To learn more, visit: www.vineyardoffshore.com.
About Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
Founded in 2012, CIP today is the world’s largest dedicated fund manager within greenfield renewable energy investments and a global leader in offshore wind. The funds managed by CIP focus on investments in offshore – and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass and energy-from-waste, transmission and distribution, reserve capacity and storage, Power-to-X and advanced bioenergy. The Excelsior Wind and Liberty Wind projects are part of CIP’s approximately 15 GW portfolio of renewable generating assets in development, construction, and operation across North America.
CIP manages 12 funds and has to date raised approximately EUR 28 billion for investments in energy and associated infrastructure from more than 160 international institutional investors. CIP has approximately 500 employees and 12 offices around the world. For more information, visit www.cip.dk.
