Biden Administration Issues Approval for Vineyard Wind Project, When Does RI’s Project Get Approval?

On Tuesday President Joe Biden’s administration moved forward on the largest offshore wind project. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued the Record of Decision for Vineyard Wind, the nation’s first large-scale offshore wind project. 

With this final approval, Vineyard Wind should be able to move forward with construction this year and begin operation and provide power to Massachusetts in 2023. 

Last week, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee has addressed the ongoing regulatory issues facing another major wind project now pending before the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and said that “the future is here for renewables.”

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Rhode Island was once the leader in the country in offshore wind, but is now beginning to fall behind. 

“Those things are going to happen," said McKee addressing the proposed Revolution Wind project — a partnership between Ørsted and Eversource.

The project is slated to create “704 MWs of clean, affordable offshore wind power - providing 304 MW to Connecticut and 400 MW to Rhode Island.”

It is not clear when Rhode Island's regulatory process will be completed.

 

Vineyard Wind Project Has Widespread Environmental and Labor 

New England for Offshore Wind, a broad-based coalition of associations, businesses, environmental and justice organizations, institutions, and labor unions issued a statement applauding the Biden administration's decision to "to advance this clean energy industry off our shores."

"Done right, this industry has the potential to create tens of thousands of high-quality, family-sustaining jobs; provide health benefits to vulnerable communities through pollution reduction; ensure equity in economic benefits; coexist with existing ocean uses; protect wildlife and the environment every step of the way. All this can be done while providing affordable, reliable, clean energy to our region," they said.

Collin O’Mara, National Wildlife Federation president & CEO said, “The national significance of this milestone cannot be overstated. We’ve been advocating for the responsible development of U.S. offshore wind power for more than a decade and we applaud the Biden Administration’s unwavering commitment to harnessing its potential. This decision marks an important step toward launching a critical clean energy solution that can create good-paying union jobs and ensure a healthy future for people and wildlife alike. We are committed to continue working with the Biden Administration, Vineyard Wind and other industry leaders, and our conservation partners to ensure that this and all other offshore wind projects are guided by science and stakeholder input and that protections for wildlife, like the endangered North Atlantic right whale, are at the center of planning and development.” 

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shift away from the polluting energy sources of the past and invest in the carbon-free economy mandated by our climate laws. We support the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to offshore wind and other green infrastructure that will help us build back better from the pandemic. Today’s final approval of the Vineyard Wind proposal is a great step forward towards a healthier and brighter future in New England,” said Cindy Luppi, Clean Water Action New England Director.

Even Cape Cod environmental activists supported the approval.  Powerbrokers like the Bill Koch of the Koch brothers and the late Senator Ted Kennedy led a fight to block the Cape Wind project slated to be built of Nantucket in the early 2000s. 

Now, Andrew Gottlieb, Executive Director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod voiced support for the approval of this project and said, “APCC congratulates Vineyard Wind on finally reaching this landmark achievement with a record of decision from BOEM that reflects the careful preparation of a comprehensive project plan that includes precedent-setting commitments—especially for protecting critically endangered North Atlantic right whales and other rare species—as well as monitoring programs and other mitigation measures that will safeguard both the marine environment and land-based natural resources. APCC also applauds BOEM and the Biden administration for resetting our national policy in support of renewable energy and the development of the offshore wind industry. The record of decision for Vineyard Wind is a historic day for our nation. It is the launching point for the expansion of offshore wind and the transition toward a carbon-free energy future.”

And Steven Tolman, Massachusetts AFL-CIO President said, “It is crucial that we treat the dual crisis of climate change and income inequality at the same time so that we create good jobs with standards as we transition to renewable energy. We are thrilled that the Biden Administration is committed to doing just that – by ensuring that wind jobs are union jobs, which are the safest and most highly trained jobs in the industry, and come with family-sustaining wages and benefits that allow workers to invest in their communities.”

429 Too Many Requests

---

openresty