Vineyard Wind powers up approximately 5 megawatts of wind power offshore
At 11:52 p.m. Tuesday, one offshore wind turbine delivered approximately 5 megawatts of power to the New England grid in Barnstable for the first time.
Power from the Vineyard Wind project based out of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal was delivered onshore as part of the initial commissioning process, with additional testing expected to happen both on and offshore in the coming weeks.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and Avangrid expect to have five turbines operating at full capacity early this year.
“We’ve arrived at a watershed moment for climate action in the U.S., and a dawn for the American offshore wind industry,” Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra said in a press release.
In August 2022, Avangrid signed an agreement to assume responsibility as the operations and maintenance services provider for Vineyard Wind 1 once the project achieves commercial operations.
CIP Partner and Head of North America Tim Evans said to have power flowing to American consumers from a commercial-scale wind project for the first time marks the dawn of a new era.
“By delivering first power, we have broken new ground and shown a viable path forward with power that is renewable, locally produced, and affordable,” he said. “Much of the credit for this milestone must go to our local partners, labor leaders and the project’s skilled union workforce, and local communities from New Bedford to Barnstable.”
New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell calls the delivery of the first 5 megawatts a hard-won milestone in the release.
“I congratulate Vineyard Wind on this important, hard-won milestone, demonstrating yet again that offshore wind in America is real, and that the Port of New Bedford is well-suited to support the industry,” Mitchell said. “This is a great way to kick off 2024.”
Power from the project interconnects to the New England grid in Barnstable, transmitted by underground cables that connect to a substation further inland on Cape Cod.
Once completed, the project will consist of 62 wind turbines to generate 806 megawatts, enough to power more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts.
Several South Coast officials also weighed in on this latest milestone in the press release.
"We now can realize the investment that Massachusetts has made in offshore wind to yield tangible results in the form of real electrons,” Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, D-Westport, chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means said. “Vineyard Wind’s clean and affordably priced electricity will benefit my constituents on the South Coast, and all residents of the Commonwealth for years to come.”
Milestone moment: Installation of five of the 62 total Vineyard Wind 1 turbines marks a new milestone
State Rep. Tony Cabral, D-New Bedford, said the city has invested a great deal of its time, energy and manpower into supporting the successful launch of the offshore wind industry in Massachusetts.
Take a closer look: Vineyard Wind takes a major step forward with the first turbine installation completed
“As a community that understands the power of the ocean better than most, with this first transmission of power from the Vineyard Wind I project, that commitment and long-term vision has been realized,” he said. “We are, once again, “the city that lights the world” and look forward to more turbines coming online as this collaboration between public and private partners energizes the next chapter in New Bedford’s maritime development.”
Rep. Christopher Markey, D-Dartmouth, said Vineyard Wind’s trust in Massachusetts should be acknowledged and appreciated while congratulating Vineyard Wind on its determination and success.
“We’re thrilled that the first power from the Vineyard Wind Project has made its way to the Massachusetts grid,” Rep. Christopher Hendricks, D-New Bedford, said. “This is a monumental victory for climate mitigation, not just in New Bedford and Massachusetts, but in the country, too.”
Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Vineyard Wind delivers first power from offshore
