Baker-Polito Administration announces selection of wind projects to bring clean power to Massachusetts

BOSTON, Mass. (WLNE) – This Friday, the Baker-Polito Administration announced two offshore wind projects, Mayflower Wind and Vineyard Wind to begin contract negotiations to bring a total of 1,600 megawatts of clean energy to Massachusetts.

This announcement brings the total amount of offshore wind energy to 3,200 MW, enough to power 1.6 million homes.

“Massachusetts has been a national leader in the offshore wind industry and today’s announcement is another major milestone with the selection of two projects that double the amount of offshore wind power secured by the Commonwealth,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The bipartisan energy legislation our Administration worked with the Legislature to pass in 2016 has unlocked record low pricing and significant economic investment through three separate procurements, and the projects selected today further illustrate the potential offshore wind presents for our climate goals, our local workforce and our port communities.”

“This historic procurement builds on our administration’s continued investments in climate and clean energy policies that have helped reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions in the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “These procurements have increased the emphasis on environmental justice and workforce diversity, maintained cost-effectiveness and increased the size and scale of the solicitation, securing significant benefits for Massachusetts ratepayers.”

“Commonwealth Wind is more than just one project, it is part of an effort to build a clean energy infrastructure including the transformation of ports around our state as well as jobs and training that will support this clean energy industry decades to come,” said President and CEO of Avangrid Renewables Offshore, Bill White.  “We are proud that Commonwealth Wind will help realize the vision of Governor Baker and the leaders of the Massachusetts Legislature in pioneering this new American industry.”

“We talk often of the jobs created directly by offshore wind but just as important to the success of this industry are the jobs that can and must be created in both the US supply chain and in the overall service of the industry,” said Lars T. Pedersen, CEO of Vineyard Wind.  “Commonwealth Wind builds on both of these goals by expanding the base of the industry to both the South Coast and the North Shore including bringing the first tier 1 manufacturer to the state, in addition to investing millions of dollars to increase diversity and inclusion, not to mention innovation.  We’re very proud of this project and truly honored to be selected by the Baker-Polito Administration.”

“This new agreement for an additional 400MW includes over $42 million in economic development initiatives across the South Coast region,” said Michael Brown, Chief  Executive Officer of Mayflower Wind Energy LLC. “In addition to creating approximately 14,000 jobs over the life of the project, we also will build our Operations and Maintenance port in Fall River and work with Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding of Somerset to design and build our crew transfer vessel. All of this is on top of the $77.5 million in benefits expected from the first 800 MW of the project. This win is the result of the extraordinary collaboration between our team and the many communities and stakeholders we have worked with over the past six months. It also reaffirms the quality and competitiveness of our bid which delivers immense community value and low-cost renewable energy.”

“Today’s announcement moves Massachusetts one step closer to achieving the ambitious offshore wind energy goals that the Legislature is continuously advancing,” said Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano. “We look forward to continuing our progress in making Massachusetts a national leader in clean energy.”

“This round sees a wise balance struck between economic development, on the one hand, and protection against excessively high monthly electric bills for families, on the other,” said Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change Chairman Michael J. Barrett. “Going forward, this can serve as a model for us. So today’s announcement is important in its own right and important as a valuable precedent.”