The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $15.4 million grant that will, in part, help support offshore wind staging at the Port of New Bedford, Mass.
The money comes from the DOT’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program.
U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren, along with U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, are applauding the funding, which will help the port extend its bulkhead, making room for 60 additional commercial vessels and providing an additional site for offshore wind staging. The project will also sequester 250,000 cubic yards of contaminated materials and provide for the beneficial use of 130,000 cubic yards of sediment.
“Christmas has come early for the Port of New Bedford and all of the hard-working fishermen, offshore wind stagers and residents who rely on the port’s success,” says Markey.
“I want to first express my sincere appreciation to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, and I want to especially acknowledge the strong advocacy of Senator Ed Markey,” said
New Bedford’s mayor, Jon Mitchell, calls the announcement a “win-win-win that helps clean our harbor, creates a much-needed new asset for our fishing industry, and opens the door to new opportunities in offshore wind energy and other marine industries.”
In July, Markey, Warren and Keating sent a letter to the DOT to urge Secretary Elaine Chao to provide this funding.
