January 3, 2024
Vineyard Wind offshore wind project, being developed by Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), has delivered its first power to the New England grid in Massachusetts.
As part of the initial commissioning process, on January 2, 2024, one turbine delivered approximately 5 MW of power, with additional testing expected to happen both on and offshore in the coming weeks.
“This is a historic moment for the American offshore wind industry,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Soon, Vineyard Wind will be producing power equivalent of over 400,000 Massachusetts households. This is clean, affordable energy made possible by the many advocates, public servants, union workers, and business leaders who worked for decades to accomplish this achievement. As we look ahead, Massachusetts is on a path toward energy independence thanks to our nation-leading work to stand up the offshore wind industry.”
Once completed the project will generate 806 MW, enough to power more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts.
“The Vineyard Wind project fueled electric energy to the New England grid for the first time on January 2, 2024, when one turbine delivered approximately five megawatts of power. We are on a path toward energy independence thanks to our nation-leading work with offshore wind,” said Cobi Frongillo, Franklin Councilmember, MA.
The Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of taking 325,000 cars off the road annually.
Power from the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project interconnects to the New England grid in Barnstable, transmitted by underground cables that connect to a substation further inland on Cape Cod.
“This truly is a milestone for offshore wind and the entire renewable industry in North America. For the first time we have power flowing to the American consumers from a commercial-scale wind project, which marks the dawn of a new era for American renewables and the green transition,” said Tim Evans, Partner at CIP and Head of North America. “By delivering first power, we have broken new ground and shown a viable path forward with power that is renewable, locally produced, and affordable. 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.”
Located some 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Vineyard Wind began offshore construction in late 2022, achieved steel-in-the-water in June, and completed the nation’s first offshore substation in July. Construction flows through the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal.
At the beginning of December 2023, Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners announced that five wind turbines were in place.
In July 2021, Vineyard Wind signed the first Project Labor Agreement for an offshore wind farm in the United States, which outlined the creation of 500 union jobs through the project.
In December 2023, project shareholders announced that Vineyard Wind 1 has delivered nearly double of its commitment through the PLA by creating 937 union jobs through two years of construction.