The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has approved Avangrid’s construction and operations plan (COP) for the New England Wind 1 and 2 offshore wind projects, completing the bulk of the federal, state and local permitting processes for the 791 MW New England Wind 1 development.
Together, New England Wind 1 and 2 could have a total capacity of up to 2.6 GW.
New England Wind 1 is an advanced and shovel-ready project in federal lease area OCS-A 0534, roughly 30 miles south of Barnstable, Mass., and making landfall under the Craigville Beach parking lot. The project will border Vineyard Wind 1 to the south.
“By securing all federal, state, regional, and local permits, New England Wind 1 has the potential to put shovels in the ground next year,” says Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra.
Avangrid anticipates receiving a final letter of authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service sometime this month. Earlier this year, Avangrid also submitted multiple proposals to the Massachusetts-Rhode Island-Connecticut Multi-State Procurement for Offshore Wind, with announcements of proposal acceptance expected in August. Avangrid says New England Wind 1 is the only project in the solicitation that has all federal, state and local permits; can start construction in 2025; and can deliver power by 2029.
