Offshore wind energy projects continue to progress in the waters south of the Vineyard, with two new wind farms approved and construction starting on a third.
Offshore wind energy projects continue to progress in the waters south of the Vineyard, with two new wind farms approved and construction starting on a third.
Revolution Wind reported “steel-in-the-water” in an area about 12 miles southwest of Aquinnah. This project was approved last August by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Headed by Orsted and Eversource, the wind farm is planned to have up to 65 turbines and generate power for Rhode Island and Connecticut.
The company estimated it would start operating the project in 2025. The turbines will be visible from Aquinnah and the town will receive mitigation money.
Revolution Wind will be joined by New England Wind and Sunrise Wind, a pair of projects that recently were approved by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
The New England Wind project’s construction plan for 129 turbines was approved by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on July 1. Construction is expected to start in 2025, with full operation beginning by 2029, according to the company. Power will make landfall in Barnstable and Bristol County.
Turbines from this project will be able to be seen in Edgartown and Aquinnah, with the project located 20 nautical miles south of the Island.
Sunrise Wind, scheduled to provide power to New York homes, also received full federal approval on June 21 to start construction. This project is located approximately 16 nautical miles south of the Island. Construction is expected to begin later this year.
Sunrise Wind is expected to provide 924 megawatts of energy, powering around 600,000 homes in New York, helping the state achieve the state’s mandate of 70 per cent renewable electricity by 2030.
While the rest of the turbines get their plans in order, Vineyard Wind continues to build its 62-planned turbines. The project now has 10 turbines about 14 miles off the Vineyard coast sending power to the New England grid, making it the largest operating offshore wind farm in the country.
The 10 turbines are delivering about 136 megawatts to the grid, according to parent company Avangrid – enough to power about 64,000 homes.
“Our Vineyard Wind 1 project continues to demonstrate the significant benefits that offshore wind offers the New England region, delivering well-paying union jobs, local investment, and clean energy that is helping Massachusetts meet its growing demand for electricity,” Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra said in a statement.
Comments
The Vineyard south shore
Ally Newport Edgartown, MAThe Vineyard south shore ocean view is now polluted by red lights on highly visible wind turbines to provide power for other states. We have all of the costs (ruined views) while receiving none of the benefits (clean energy).
I rather have less CO2 in the
I Hate CO2 EdgartownI rather have less CO2 in the atmosphere, less waste from fracking and coal polluting out air, water, and soil than appease the very few years round residents with a water view from Atlantic Drive and Moshup Trail.
Folks want their million
James Oak BluffsFolks want their million dollar views while ignoring climate change. Sorry the red lights bother you.
If the power is for other
Lenny ChilmarkIf the power is for other states why don't those states build the turbines off their own shores...maybe because they don't want to destroy their ocean views as we have now done to ours.
“ An 806-megawatt project
John P West Tisbury“ An 806-megawatt project located 14 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Vineyard Wind will generate electricity for more than 400,000 homes and businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts” and “ On July 1, 2024, BOEM announced its approval of the New England Wind Construction and Operations Plan (COP), which authorizes construction and operation of two wind energy projects. Together, these projects would have a total capacity of up to 2,600 megawatts of clean, renewable energy that BOEM estimates could power more than 900,000 homes each year. The projects are situated approximately 20 nautical miles (nm) south of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and about 24 nm southwest of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The COP includes up to 129 wind turbine generators, with up to five offshore export cables transmitting electricity to onshore transmission systems in the Town of Barnstable and Bristol County, Massachusetts”
So much of the power is going physically to this state. You must consider that the NE power grid is overseen by ISO NE and power is shared based on relative needs; see https://www.iso-ne.com/
Other states are building
James West TisburyOther states are building them off their shores. It’s happening all up and down the east coast. Sorry James.
I’m all for building more
Ellen EdgartownI’m all for building more wind turbines, but we were told the lights would only activate if planes were nearby. Instead the lights are on continuously. That seems deceptive.
The environmental impacts of
At what cost?The environmental impacts of these turbines are terrible. Throw in the added bonus of the dark sky now looking like a city south of MV is the cherry red lights on top of the Sunday.
The red lights have to stay
Rupert Oak bluffsThe red lights have to stay on during construction. Once they are finished building then they will only come on when a plane is overhead within a certain distance.
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