US Vineyard wind farm approval welcomed
US federal approval of the first large-scale offshore wind farm in the US marks an historic day for the clean energy transition, advocates said May 11. Slated for construction off the coast of Massachusetts, the $2bn project will be the largest of its kind to be commissioned for US waters.
American Clean Power Association CEO Heather Zichal hailed the sanctioning as an historic step for the US energy sector.
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“Now is the time to push forward on offshore wind, catch up to global competitors, and decarbonise our electric grid, so that the US can deliver economic and environmental benefits to our citizens and combat climate change,” she said.
US interior secretary Deb Haaland and commerce secretary Gina Raimondo announced federal consent for the $2bn Vineyard Wind energy project May 11. Financial close is expected in the second half this year, and the 800 MW wind farm will begin delivering energy in 2023.
Since taking office in January, US president Joe Biden has pushed for a cleaner energy agenda, denying permits for major projects such as the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada. The administration has set a goal of securing 30 GW of energy from offshore wind by 2030.
The US Energy Information Administration reported May 11 that 15.9 GW of new wind capacity will come online this year, with an additional 5.2 GW expected in 2022. Some 14 GW came online last year.
Project developer Vineyard Wind is a joint venture between Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. By incorporating a 13-MW wind turbine from GE in its design, the company said it was able to reduce the rotor footprint from 108 to 62 without influencing power capacity.
The company added that turbines will be spaced one nautical mile apart. The design was endorsed by the US Coast Guard for safe transit and fishing.