(Image by Andrew Martin from Pixabay.)The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced its approval of the New England Wind Construction and Operations Plan (COP), authorizing the construction and operation of New England Wind 1 and New England Wind 2, which will have a combined total capacity of up to 2,600 MW. This is the final approval of these two projects from BOEM, following the agency’s April 2024 Record of Decision.
“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to advancing offshore wind energy projects like New England Wind to create jobs, drive economic growth, and cut harmful climate pollution,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “We are proud to announce BOEM’s final approval of the New England Wind projects. They represent a major milestone in our efforts to expand clean energy production and combat climate change.”
The two projects are located approximately 20 nautical miles (nm) south of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and about 24 nm southwest of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The COP for the two projects includes up to 129 wind turbine generators, up to five electric service platforms, and up to five offshore export cables transmitting electricity to onshore transmission systems in the Town of Barnstable and Bristol County, Massachusetts.
BOEM considered feedback from Tribes, other government agencies, ocean users, and others prior to the decision. It said the feedback resulted in required measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any potential impacts from the project on marine life and other important ocean uses, such as fishing.
