Vineyard Wind says it has taken another significant step in its Massachusetts offshore wind farm development by submitting the project’s draft environmental impact report to state regulators.
According to the developer, the filing advances the company’s proposal to construct an 800 MW wind farm 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard while maintaining its early timetable to begin construction in 2019 and become operational by 2021.
The draft report was submitted to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office under the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Vineyard Wind, one of three developers competing for long-term contracts with Massachusetts’ electric distribution companies, claims it is the only one to begin both the state permitting process and the federal permitting process (by filing a construction and operations plan in December 2017).
“Vineyard Wind’s early timeline is on schedule to maximize the abundant environmental, economic and energy benefits associated with utility-scale wind energy for Bay State residents and businesses,” says Erich Stephens, chief development officer of Vineyard Wind. “The draft environmental impact report is an essential part of the permitting process and extensive environmental review that is currently underway. The process will ensure that Vineyard Wind provides substantial quantities of clean energy resources to Massachusetts while protecting the commonwealth’s natural resources and being responsive to stakeholder input.”
Vineyard Wind says it will continue to refine the project design and approach as it receives additional comments from regulators and stakeholders. The company has been especially focused on receiving input from the fishing industry and has already held more than 100 meetings with fishermen or fishing organizations since 2016. Input from those meetings is reflected within the project design, the company notes.
