The Interior Department today announced the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s completion of its environmental review of the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project off Massachusetts, calling the development “major progress in the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to accelerate responsible development of renewable energy…as a key component of tackling the climate crisis and creating jobs.” If approved, it would be the nation’s first commercial scale offshore wind project. The decision was formally published last Friday.
As currently proposed, the project would involve an 800 megawatt wind energy facility that includes up to 100 wind turbine generators in water depts of 121-161 feet, one or two offshore substations or electrical service platforms, and one export cable landfall near Barnstable, MA.
DOI noted that BOEM is working to finalize the National Historic Preservation Act review process and issue a Record of Decision jointly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Marine Fisheries Service.
