Avangrid Renewables‘ joint venture offshore wind project, Commonwealth Wind, has been selected as part of Massachusetts’ third offshore wind competitive procurement process. The 1,232-MW project is New England’s largest offshore wind project to date and will create 11,000 full-time equivalent jobs over its lifetime and generate enough energy to power 750,000 homes annually.
“Commonwealth Wind will power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in Massachusetts with clean energy, creating thousands of local jobs across the supply chain. It will also be a key project in helping the U.S. to achieve the 30 GW offshore wind target by 2030,” said Ignacio Galán, chairman and CEO of Iberdrola and chairman of Avangrid. “After investing $15 billion in 8 GW of onshore wind and solar, we are now leading the way in offshore wind energy in the U.S. with the construction of Vineyard Wind One and Park City Wind. With 15 years of experience delivering projects across the world, Iberdrola and AVANGRID are working hard to ensure our investments are transformational for the environment and the economy. Our U.S. offshore wind pipeline alone could deliver over $15 billion of investment in the coming years.”
With the addition of Commonwealth Wind to Avangrid’s existing portfolio of offshore wind development projects, the company will build, own and operate more than 2,400 MW of offshore clean energy once the joint venture restructuring with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid Renewables closes.
Commonwealth Wind includes two initiatives that convert former coal-fired power plant sites into clean energy centers including the creation of the state’s first offshore wind manufacturing facility at Brayton Point in Somerset and the establishment of a second offshore wind port in Salem Harbor, both of which will provide an anchor for building long-term jobs to service this new industry.
“Commonwealth Wind is part of Avangrid’s vision to build a clean energy economy through community investment and reimagination. This strategic project will diversify the energy workforce with good-paying jobs while providing cost-effective, renewable energy,” said Dennis V. Arriola, CEO of Avangrid. “The energy transition requires real commitment, expertise and vision and we thank the Baker Administration and the people of Massachusetts for their continued support as we work together to make this collective dream a reality.”
Commonwealth Wind will catalyze two major investments in Massachusetts communities that will generate significant long-term jobs and economic development. The first is Prysmian Cable Manufacturing Facility. Prysmian Group is an international subsea cable manufacturer that intends to build a manufacturing facility for subsea transmission cables at Brayton Point, the former 1,600 MW coal-fired power plant in Somerset.
The second is the Salem Offshore Wind Port. The Commonwealth Wind proposal enables Crowley Marine to redevelop 42 acres surrounding Salem Harbor Station to serve as an offshore wind assembly and turbine staging port for the Park City Wind and Commonwealth Wind projects.
“This is more than just one project, it is part of an effort to build a clean energy infrastructure including the transformation of ports around our state as well as jobs and training that will support this clean energy industry for decades to come,” said Bill White, president and CEO of Avangrid Renewables Offshore. “We are proud that Commonwealth Wind will help realize the vision of Gov. Baker and the leaders of the Massachusetts Legislature in pioneering this new American industry.”
Commonwealth Wind brings intends to advance workforce diversity, community investment and technological innovations. A position has been created for the chief diversity officer. The project set hiring goals for women, Black and Indigenous People of Color and local employees.
Avangrid is investing $15 million for initiatives in diversity, equity and inclusion for workforce training and supply chain development. Contracts of over $10 million will include local hiring plans.
New Bedford will serve as the site for Avangrid Renewables’ Offshore Wind Control Center, a facility that will provide remote control monitoring for the turbines, electrical service platforms and other offshore/onshore assets. The project also brings a service and maintenance hub to New Bedford through a partnership with Semco Maritime, an international service provider that will employ up to 40 people at the new facility.
News item from Avangrid Renewables
Filed Under: News, Offshore wind, Projects
