BOEM approves New England Wind construction and operation plan for two offshore energy projects

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has approved the New England Wind Construction and Operations Plan (COP), which authorizes the construction and operation of two wind projects, supporting the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to promoting offshore wind projects like New England Wind to create jobs, drive economic growth and reduce harmful climate pollution,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein.

The approval will enable the construction and operation of two offshore wind farms, known as New England Wind 1 and New England Wind 2, which will have a combined capacity of up to 2,600 MW of clean, renewable electricity, which will power more than 900,000 homes per year.

Both projects are located approximately 20 nautical miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and approximately 24 nautical miles southwest of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The COP for both projects includes up to 129 wind turbine generators, up to five electrical service platforms, and up to five offshore export cables to transmit electricity to onshore transmission systems in the city of Barnstable and Bristol County, Massachusetts.

BOEM considered feedback from Tribes, other government agencies, ocean users, and others before making its decision. The feedback led to required measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any potential impacts of the project on marine life and other important ocean uses.